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England eyeing fast start at GolfSixes
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England eyeing fast start at GolfSixes

Matt Wallace and Eddie Pepperell arrive at this week's GolfSixes as the only team made up of two 2018 European Tour winners - but Pepperell is more focused on winning their opening match than the trophy at Centurion Club.

Matt Wallace and Eddie Pepperell

The innovative GolfSixes format returns for its second edition, with 16 teams of two split into four groups and facing each other over six holes of match play in a round-robin before the top two in each group go through to the knockout stages.

This year's event sees three wild card teams added to the 13 competing nations and one of those is England Women, who will go head-to-head with their male counterparts at 12:04pm on Saturday.

The derby clash between the two home teams is likely to draw a bumper crowd and Commercial Bank Qatar Masters champion Pepperell joked that he would happily miss every cut for the rest of the season if he could avoid defeat against Charley Hull and Georgia Hall.

"I'd rather beat the ladies tomorrow and miss every cut the rest of the year than lose and play well for the rest of the year," he said. "It is different and I don't know how we'll feel tomorrow.

"I think we'll feel quite relaxed. The whole event is just about fun, so just go for it and there's no pressure on anybody here. It's just try and entertain as best we can.

"We'll get some stick on social media if we lose. It's all good fun. I think it's actually brilliant for the event. We all think it's brilliant for the event that the ladies are here."

Andy Sullivan and Chris Wood represented England at this event last season and Pepperell revealed he has been given some valuable advice by Sullivan's caddie Sean Mcdonagh.

"Last year they found it very difficult to come back once you were one down through two," he said. "His advice was get one up through two. Because of the nature of the format, the chances are, over six holes, we're going to make you would hope at least three birdies, particularly as there's two par fives. We want to get off to a good start.

"Mine and Matt's games match up perfectly, if you were to look at the statistics. My iron play is my big strength and Matt drives and putts very well. So the way it could pan out, it could really suit our games."

We all think it's brilliant for the event that the ladies are here - Eddie Pepperell

Wallace won the Hero Indian Open in March and he is confident his combination with Pepperell can bring some home success this week.

"We'll be fine," he said. "We're going to have fun. I saw Eddie yesterday at Wentworth, played a few holes and he was flushing it in. The three iron into the first he hit was impressive.

"I'm in a great place. The greens are fantastic and the weather is going to be great. We're going to enjoy it and look forward to it."

Richie Ramsay represents Scotland at the GolfSixes for the second season running after finishing third last season alongside Marc Warren - the man who sealed third spot in a dramatic nearest the pin play-off against Italy.

This year he plays with Scott Jamieson and both men are confident of a successful week.

Scott Jamieson and Richie Ramsay

"I think every team is really strong," said Ramsay. "I think we've got a really, really strong group. As much as we look at other teams and say that they are strong, they must look at our team. There's not many stronger teams than I think myself and Scott.

"It's really open but I think that's what makes it exciting. People are going to take points off each other and any team can beat another team."

"Every team is going to be a tough match, especially over six holes," added Jamieson.

"You know, a couple of loose tee-shots and all of a sudden you're a couple down and you've only got a few holes left to turn it around."

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