While tournament golf is usually a marathon, this week players are sprinting towards the top-8 at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

With only the top-24 players making the match play round on Sunday, players are searching for birdies at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, however ultimately they want to be in the top-8 after 54 holes.

Those players who find themselves in the coveted positions will earn a reprieve from the first round of matches on Sunday.

West Australian Brett Rumford has led from the front over the first two rounds, he believes his two stroke lead heading in to round three is not nearly as important as securing a top-8 position and bye in the first round of match play on Sunday.

“That’s one less lottery round you have to deal with,” Rumford said of the possibility of a bye.

“So that’s definitely a huge bonus qualifying inside that top-8. So it’s definitely something I am thinking about.  For any players, I mean, that’s why it’s going to be so unique and so interesting as well.

“There’s sort of cuts within cuts this week, and if you’re not thinking about it, you know, maybe it’s a good thing, maybe a bad thing, I’m not too sure, but definitely the top 8 is where you want to be.”

Louis Oosthuzien, a winner here at Lake Karrinyup last year in the 2016 ISPS HANDA Perth International, echoed Rumford’s statement.

The South African shot 4-under 68 in round two to move within striking distance of a coveted top-8 finish.

“I think if I can do 4 or 5‑under tomorrow that can work and should be fine to be in top-8 then,” Oosthuizen said.

“Basically just playing to get top-8 after Saturday and if not, be in top 24.  So just not trying anything silly out there with taking on risky shots, I’m just plodding along and see how many pars I can make and how many birdie opportunities I can get.”

All players in a tie for 24^th position will compete in a hole-by-hole playoff until the final spot is filled.

Once the top-24 is confirmed, the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth’s new format comes to life.

Players finishing from 9^th to 24^th will be randomly paired on Saturday night, they’ll play the first round of match play on the six Knockout holes 2, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 18.

Any matches tied after the six holes will play the specially designed ‘Shootout’ hole utilizing the existing 18^th green. The shootout hole will be played sudden death until a winner emerges.

Winner’s from the first round of Knockout’s move on to match up with the top-8 with the process completed until a winner emerges.

The format has caused excitement among the field, local Curtis Luck is the only amateur of the field which may play in his favour given match play is a regular occurrence in amateur tournaments.

“I’ve always loved match play, so it’s a game that I think they don’t play enough,” Luck said.

“It’s so exciting and as everyone knows, if you make a mistake it’s just one hole. Whereas in stroke play there’s the added pressure of compounding mistake after mistake and putting a big number out there.

“So I love match play and I’m pretty excited to try to get in there for Sunday.”

Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen also joined the chorus of support for the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, saying the format will be a big draw card for fans.

“I think it’s a great idea.  I think sometimes 18 holes is maybe too much and takes too long time,” Olesen said.

“To sit in front of the TV and watch for five and a half hours is too much and probably also because there’s too many guys to play, it’s slow, and that’s something that needs to change also I think.

“But, yeah, to get a shorter format I think would be great. It’s good for the viewers and good for the spectators and everybody.”