Golf: Golf to trial a break from tradition

Professional golf will break with tradition by trialling a new fast-paced product at The Sands Torquay this week.

The Surf Coast Knockout, a new event on the Australasian PGA Tour, involves 54 holes - or three rounds - of stroke play to determine the top 32 players, who will qualify for a series of six-hole match play rounds on Sunday.

The sudden-death matches will ensure competitors like French star Jean Van de Velde and Aussie notables such as three-time Australian Masters champion Craig Parry, 2010 Australian PGA champion Peter Senior and US Open runner-up Stephen Leaney adopt a go-for-broke mentality in order to win the inaugural title.

Players will chase early birdies as they attempt to knock-out opponents quickly and progress through to the next round.

So the likely game plan is one of all-out aggression, similar to the extended play-off format used in the British Open.

If matches are tied after six holes a purpose-built 100-metre par three hole near the clubhouse will settle the issue.

In another break from tradition, golf followers may also be surprised to know players can wear shorts during the match-play rounds of the tournament.

The Surf Coast Knockout is being played at the scenic beachside course designed by reigning Australian Masters champion Stuart Appleby, who led into the final round of the Sony Open last week on the USPGA Tour before fading to a tie for 13th.

Some fairways at The Sands Torquay border the foreshore reserve and crashing surf of Bass Strait while providing views along the coastline to Barwon Heads.

"It's an amazing facility," Appleby said.

"I'm really excited about every aspect of the development and it's in such a beautiful part of the world.

"And it's nice for me to have been part of the project and put my stamp on it."

- AAP