The ISPS Handa Pressure Putt Showdown returns to the European Tour with a new, improved format at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports next week.
The Grove’s putting green will be transformed into a lively arena on the afternoon of Wednesday October 12 as four teams, each made up of a European Tour professional and a high-profile celebrity, take on each other in the test of skill and nerve.
Ryder Cup stars Chris Wood and Matthew Fitzpatrick, the defending British Masters champion, will swap the intensity of Hazeltine National for a different kind of pressure when they headline the four-man field for the contest. The celebrity line-up will include cricketer Kevin Pietersen, former Chelsea footballer Gianfranco Zola, GB Hockey Olympic gold medallist Hollie Webb and snooker legend Stephen Hendry.
Sky Sports will broadcast the live action from 3.00pm, with Kirsty Gallacher and DJ Spoony introducing the new format and a live DJ and spectator interaction adding to the spectacle.
The ISPS Handa Pressure Putt Showdown made a successful debut at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in May, producing a memorable moment as eight year old Jamie Sach stepped in as a ‘Mulligan’ to help Byeong Hun An and Jamie Redknapp on their way to victory.
That feature will remain at The Grove, with pupils from local schools being selected as ‘Sky Sports Game Changers’ to assist the teams. But there will be a new look to the contest itself, with two teams going head-to-head in sudden-death semi-final clashes, with each player attempting to hole putts of increasing difficulty, both in length and angle. If both players from a team miss and one member of the opposition holes out, the contest is over and the unsuccessful team is eliminated.
The final will then take the form of a speed putting challenge, where players must hole as many putts as possible against the clock. The teams will be competing for a prize of £10,000, provided by ISPS Handa, which will be split between the title sponsor’s own chosen charity and the Golf Foundation, the official charity of the British Masters supported by Sky Sports.
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “Like the Hero Challenge on the Tuesday night at The Grove, the ISPS Handa Pressure Putt Showdown is another example of the faster-paced, entertaining formats we are introducing on the European Tour.
“There is no better place to do this than at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, which last year showcased a number of innovative concepts to help engage new audiences, and I think the new-look ISPS Handa Pressure Putt Showdown will really appeal to fans at The Grove, who will be able to help create a special atmosphere at the specially constructed arena, as well as those watching at home on TV.”
ISPS chairman and founder Dr Haruhisa Handa said: “We are thrilled to be a part of the revamped Pressure Putt Challenge at The Grove next week. The second edition of this event sees some top golfers of the highest calibre participating. Combined with music by superstar DJ Spoony, the event will extend the game of golf beyond its current parameters, both in terms of its participants and its audience.
“The involvement of school children at the challenge is also enabling the sport to reach out to the local community. As a firm advocate for the power of sport to create good, I am delighted that we can be involved in such an initiative that provides a charitable dimension, helping socially impactful causes.”
Tickets for the 2016 British Masters supported by Sky Sports are now on general sale, with fans able to buy tickets for the final three rounds of the European Tour tournament at The Grove. They are available jointly viawww.europeantourtickets.comandwww.sky.com/tickets.
Hospitality packages are also available for the British Masters supported by Sky Sports. For further information or to request a brochure call 01344 8404550 emailenquiries@europeantourhospitality.comor visitwww.europeantourtickets.com.
