The players loved the innovative new format at the 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown.
The European Tour was breaking new ground at Aphrodite Hills Resort this week with an innovative new format.
Following in the footsteps of the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth, GolfSixes, Shot Clock Masters and Belgian Knockout, the 105 man field was faced with a new challenge in Paphos.
The 36 hole cut saw the field trimmed to the top 32 and ties, with all scores reset for the Saturday shootout, where another cut got us down to the last 16 and ties.
The scores were then reset again for the final 18 holes, with Robert MacIntyre prevailing from a 19 man, 18 hole Sunday showdown for the title.
The new format brought a new approach from some and some changing tactics over the four rounds - here is what some of the players had to say throughout the week.
Rikard Karlberg after the first round
Mainly you just have to go for it. Wherever you are you can't be uptight about it you just have to go for it. It will be small things that will make the difference between top ten and 32nd, so you just have to go for it a little bit more aggressively.
Jamie Donaldson after the first round
It’s difficult in a way. The guy who has the lowest score over the four rounds might not win. It’s a very interesting, different format that nobody has played before. It’s remaining patient and keep playing like it’s a four round strokeplay tournament. If you think about just making it inside the top 32, you could miss. You have to go out there and try and shoot as low as you can.
James Morrison after briefly tying the course record in round two
It was a bit of a funny dynamic because things start from zero tomorrow - you then find yourself wafting it around on the last few holes thinking you’ve made it to the weekend. I always try and think as low as I can go. The woman on the 13th tee said ‘well done, keep playing well’. I said 'it’s back to zero tomorrow' and she said ‘is it?’. It’s a funny dynamic. You end up trying to get over the line and in the top 32.
Joël Stalter after making the 36 hole cut on the bubble as the second round was finished on Saturday
It’s even more stressful with this format and the cut line, you know all you need to do is make the cut - it doesn’t matter what you shoot. It was very difficult to manage but I’m really happy I did it. Even this morning, I was more nervous than I’ve been in a very long time. It gets in your head, you’re playing well, you’re on the mark, you have three holes left in the second round. All you needed to do was make this cut and you still have a chance to win. Job done, let's keep it going.
Marcus Armitage needed two birdies on Saturday morning to make the shootout
The pressure there; it felt like we were coming down the stretch in contention if I’m honest. Knowing if you get through this then you’re basically tied for the lead, it’s anyone’s game. It’s anyone’s game today and then it’s scrapped again and it’s anyone’s game tomorrow. Big pressure coming down there, but I’m glad I’m through and I’ll see what happens. You really want to save the low one for tomorrow. If I can scrape through today and then save it all for tomorrow that would be ideal.
Thomas Detry watched Armitage and Stalter battle through before making Sunday on the bubble
I was just watching the drama, it’s a really interesting format because usually players will make the cut on the number and then will be ten shots away - you know whoever makes the cut is tied for the lead. Anything can happen. So there was a bit of extra pressure and it was quite entertaining watching some of the players finishing their last few holes.
Johannes Veerman fired the joint lowest round in the shootout with a 64
This format is great. You can make it to the final day, which is what our goal was, then you have a chance to win. That was the first step, making it to the top 32 - which we did - then the next one was making the top 16 - which we did. Now it’s just a race to the finish, it’s exciting.
Steven Brown made it into the final round
I think normally on a Saturday you know that even if you have a slowish day, just to keep going because you’ve always got Sunday to make a charge as well. Whereas today it’s very cut-throat, you’re either in or you’re not. There’s nothing in between, you’re either still in it or you’re gone.
And the last word goes to our champion - Robert MacIntyre
It’s something different. It’s probably more entertaining to watch on TV because anything could have happened. I pulled that shot on 16 thinking that could be out of bounds. It keeps everyone entertained until someone takes control. I enjoyed it, it was something different and it did suit my game the way I was playing. I was taking every pin out that I could.
