Northern Ireland Open debuts unique stroke play-match play combo format

The Northern Ireland Open: Is it stroke play? Is it match play? It’s both!

The Northern Ireland Open is breaking free of the 72-hole stroke play format. While the PGA Championship is devouring the headlines this week in the golf world, the European Tour is up to its usual hijinks.

Its main tour has the week off, but its developmental Challenge Tour is mixing it up for one of its more popular events, the Northern Ireland Open.

Still a four-day event, the first three days operate under the standard procedure of 54 holes of stroke play.

A field of 156 is whittled down to top 60 and ties after Friday, but then things start to get interesting.

A secondary cut is then made after Saturday’s round to 24 for Sunday. What’s on Sunday, you ask?

Six-hole stroke play matches!

Six has been the magic number for the European Tour this season as they debuted the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth in February and the GolfSixes in May.

Here at Galgorm Castle for the Northern Ireland Open, the top eight players from stroke play earn a bye into the round of 16 on what’s dubbed as “Shootout Sunday”.

Ties for the top eight and the final spots are determined by hole-by-hole playoffs Saturday.

Any matches on Sunday tied after six holes will move to the Shootout Hole, which is explained in the video below.

Golf can be entertainment too!

If that’s not enough variety for you, how about I told you the first round match play draws were determined at random by a boy band pop star?

It’s true! The European Tour’s #1 golf groupie, Niall Horan of One Direction fame, has been tapped to draw the six-hole matchups on Saturday night.

Horan is a noted golf nut, Rory McIlroy’s pal and, most relevant for this discussion, a director with Modest! Golf Management, an offshoot of Modest Management which represents One Direction. Modest! Golf is the title sponsor of the event.

Horan shared his thoughts on the event with The Irish Times:

"“The format forces games to play six holes and make it down the 18th and build the atmosphere with a stadium finish. It also helps speed up play and gets people interested that perhaps don’t play golf.”"

This event is promoted as one of the more popular ones on the schedule annually. A new format like this, in event organizers eyes, could elevate it to the next level.

Tournament ambassador and European Tour player, Michael Hoey, was quoted by Today’s Golfer that players seem to be on board.

"“We have spoken to several players about the change in format, including last year’s winner Ryan (Fox), and all agreed that the new format is an extremely exciting new prospect.”"

More from Pro Golf Now

Despite the strong public relations push, Chase Koepka (No. 9) is the only top-10 player in the Road to Oman rankings in this week’s field. Six more players Nos. 11-20 are entered.

Perhaps a successful trial run will attract a stronger field in years to come.

Whoever survives upwards of 30 holes on Sunday will be rewarded with a new trophy carved from beech trees from nearby Dark Hedges.

I think it’s somewhat ironic that the European Tour debuted six-hole events rather than trying first on the Challenge Tour. Either way, this seems like a nice change of pace. Players may grumble at the prospect of having to adjust to a new format toward the end of the season when they’re playing for European Tour and Challenge Tour status, but they can’t be dissatisfied at one of their events gaining extra publicity.

Next: PGA Championship moving to May in 2019

Any way to attract golf fans to come out and watch seems viable for this tour. Television coverage appears sparse, at least in the U.S., but this event appears sustainable if all goes well in 2017.

Home/European tour