Shock: Innovative New Pro Tournament Format Does Not Originate In Ponte Vedra

Instead, it's coming from Down Under where the PGA of Australia launched a new tournament set to appear on the 2011 PGA Tour of Australasia schedule. "The Surf Coast Knockout" features three rounds of stroke play, with the two cuts and the final 16 decided by six hole matches on Sunday.

- The field size for the Surf Coast Knockout will be 132 (min) which will include a maximum of 20 amateurs.

- The event is a full PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit event.
- Rounds 1-3 will be strokeplay.

- The fourth and final round will be contested under match play conditions.

- Two cuts will be made during the tournament (a first for the PGA Tour of Australasia).

- The first cut will be made after 36 holes (to 50 + ties).

- The second will be made after 54 holes (to 32).

- The fourth round (match play) will be 16 matches played over 6 holes.

- A proportion of prize money will be paid to the top 5 following 54 holes.
- The remainder of the prize money will be paid following Sunday’s final results.

One thing I'm not clear on: how does the knockout hole work for ties?

But how refreshing to see some organization trying to keep up with the times by putting together a format sure to generate discussion and interest. Novel stuff!