EUAN McLEAN

What a timely boost that might prove as they sit perched on the fringes either side of the world’s top 100.

How fitting too that Scotland’s two highest-ranked golfers chose a bagpipe rendition of Flower of Scotland as their walk-on music – another enjoyable addition to enhance the atmosphere.

Although I must admit I’m more with the three teams who each chose Metallica’s Enter Sandman for their boxing-style introduction. Aussies Jason Day THE VOICE OF GOLF IN RECORD SPORT and Ryan Ruffels stayed true to their roots with Down Under by Men at Work, as did South Korea’s KJ Choi and Charley Wi with Gangnam Style. Let’s hope they did the dance too.

Or how about some social comment from Harold Varner III and Robert Garrigus celebrating their multiracial partnership with Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder.

All very cheesy but a heck of a lot of fun for the crowds – so let’s have more of it. Thankfully we will this weekend as the European Tour’s innovative GolfSixes gets under way in St Albans.

Also in its second edition, they’ve enhanced this fast event by introducing leading female players to do battle with the men.

Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn and Solheim Cup skipper Catriona Matthew will become the first male and female pros to play together in a competitive match-play format on the European Tour when they form the Captains Team.

And an England women’s team comprising Charley Hull and Georgia Hall will be joined by a European one of Spaniard Carlota Ciganda and England’s Mel Reid.

They’ll be among 16 teams split into four groups who will play each other over six holes in a round-robin format before the knockout stage on Sunday.

Again it’s an event with fun and fan engagement at its heart so let’s wish it every success.

Of course these lighthearted events will never replace the sharp edge of Major golf. But in a long season these little breaks from the norm are welcome.