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A new format was presented yesterday on the European Tour namely internationally paired four balls played over 6 holes over 2 days. It’s marketed as golf’s attempt at T20: quicker, more razzmatazz for the younger audience who in our compressed accelerated age has they say no time for 4 rounds. That is how it’s marketed but the reality it’s about two things: money and television.

I watched the first day yesterday at the Centurion St Albans. Surprisingly Portugal did well (Gouveia and Lima) did well less surprisingly France (Bourdy and in form Levy) and my fancy won their group. The two group winners go into the knock out stages today. For my taste the speed of it all made me uncomfortable as golf’s attraction is that it is a slow game and it was not that easy to follow. The commentators including Kevin Pietersen hyped it up as the greatest innovation since sliced bread. I did not see it that way but I do applaud the imagination of European golf to push back the fairways of modern golf.

With some relief I watched the more traditional format of the Wells Fargo Classic at Eagle Point, normally the venue is Quail Hollow but that is where the US PGA is being contested. Golf is the game of corporate America and I cannot see the US PGA tinkering around with it.

RahmA few years ago I identified Dustin Johnson as the heir apparent to Tiger Woods – now I nominate a young golfer who played his first tour event only 13 months ago whose tee power, short and putting game will supercede Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day: Joe Rahm.

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About John Pargiter

John Pargiter’s biggest claim to fame is his first-ever work experience job, as ‘legs’ (or runner) for Henry Longhurst. For many years he worked in insurance at Lloyds. After retiring he has returned to his favourite sport of golf and is a keen recreational sailor and grandparent. More Posts