They may have a combined age of 95, but Thomas Bjorn and Catriona Matthew could forge quite a handy golfing alliance when the European Tour’s GolfSixes gets its second airing this season.

Keith Pelley, the effervescent chief executive of the circuit, has never been one for standing still in a sport that is well used to digging the heels in. Experiments here, innovations there, trial and error everywhere? Many actually believe Pelley’s office resembles the whiz-bang bolt-hole that Q existed in during the old Bond films.

Last year’s inaugural GolfSixes at The Centurion Club was, on the whole, warmly received. In a fairly staple diet of 72-hole strokeplay competition, the short-form, rapid-fire shoot-out was something fresh on the menu.

In 2018, the GolfSixes is looking to bolster that, ahem, six appeal. In addition to the 12, two-man national teams of European Tour players, Bjorn and Matthew, the respective captains of the European Ryder and Solheim Cup teams, will compete together while leading female players, Charley Hull and Georgia Hall, will form an English team.

Solheim Cup players Mel Reid and Suzann Pettersen will combine in a European duo with all and sundry competing against each other in the six-hole matchplay contest.

While there were some things that worked and some things that didn’t during the debut of the event last year, the overriding feeling was of positivity. Data gathered in the aftermath revealed that it saw a 42 per cent increase in new golf fans compared to the standard European Tour tournament.

Those attendees were also 14 per cent younger that those going during the rest of the campaign. Throw in a vibrant social media scene, and the GolfSixes ticked a lot of boxes. It was shorter, it was faster and, importantly, it was less pompous.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many kids at a golf tournament in my life, which is great for the game,” said Lucas Bjerregaard, who won the inaugural title with his Danish compatriot Thorbjorn Olesen. “They were having a great time, running around and not being told to be quiet all the time, which is exactly what we need to get more young people involved in our sport.”

With a purse of over £880,000, as well as a shot-clock and microphones on players for on-course interviews, those involved are relishing the prospect of something a bit different.

"This is not your normal golf tournament where everyone is very serious and has their heads down," said Bjorn. "This is completely different, it’s more about having fun and portraying the game in a good way. I think it’s hugely important to also try and break down the barriers that have existed in golf between the men’s and women’s games.”

Matthew added: “All tours are trying to think of ways to make golf different and encourage a new and younger audience. I think this whole concept is very exciting.”