Working on its short game -- European Tour to trial six-hole format

Working on its short game -- European Tour to trial six-hole format

LONDON - A new six-hole team format featuring shot clocks, music and fewer clubs is set to be trialled next season by the European Tour.

The European Tour's chief executive Keith Pelley is hoping to make golf more appealing to youngsters by bringing the new format to the schedule as early as 2018

The tour's chief executive Keith Pelley is hoping to make golf more appealing to youngsters by bringing the new format to the schedule as early as 2018.

"It would probably be a country competition," Pelley told the BBC.

"So you could see England playing Scotland in a six-hole matchplay.

"If you're not prepared to change, you're not prepared to be innovative, if you're not prepared to actually take chances, then sports will fall behind."

Shortening the game has been discussed many times before by pundits and players, and the European Tour brought in stricter rules on slow play earlier this season.

"Yes, there would be a shot clock," Pelley added.

"Yes, there'd be music and players would probably be dressed a bit differently. Maybe they'd only play with five or seven clubs."

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