What's Match Play? Learn about Resistance Form in Golf

"What is Match Play" is a common question for those who are new to golf or familiar with the form of a club (Stroke Play). Match Play is also known as confrontational play, which is a form of golf, where two players or two teams play face-to-face through each hole instead of comparing the entire course. Let's learn more about this formulation and why it brings so much tension and appeal to viewers.

1. What's Match Play?

In Match Play, players or teams compete against each other on each individual hole. The person with the lower score per hole wins the hole and takes the lead by 1up. The player's goal is to win as many holes as possible, until the opponent no longer has a chance to equalize the score.  

This format is used in all Ryder Cups, Solheim Cups and Presidents Cups, along with many other tournaments such as the Amateur Championship, the US Amateur Championship, the Curtis Cup, and the Walker Cup.

2. Compare Match Play and Stroke Play

• Stroke Play: is a popular form of play in major tournaments, where players try to finish the golf course with the lowest total score.
• Match Play: provides a high level of focus on each hole. The overall score is not important, the player just needs to win more holes than the opponent to win.

3. How to Calculate Points in Match Play

For adversarial methods, points per hole will be calculated separately.  

• If a player scores a point lower than his opponent in that hole, he or she will be ahead by 1up.
• If the two sides have the same score in a hole, the result will be "All Square" (AS), which means the match is still balanced.

  At the end of the game, the person who leads the most when there are not enough holes left for the opponent to turn the tide will be the winner.

For example:

• If a player is ahead by 3up and there are only 2 holes left to play, they will win by 3&2.
• In an 18-hole match, the maximum winning score is 10&8, which means the winner is 10 points ahead when only 8 more holes are left.

  Legendary golfer Tiger Woods almost achieved this feat in the 2006 WGC-Match Play, when he beat Stephen Ames 9&8. This match proves the unexpected and attractive nature of Match Play, where players can win big before finishing all the holes.  

In the Solheim Cup and the Ryder Cup, you can also see the AS symbol on the scoreboard, which means that the game is "All Square" - neither side has won more than the opponent. The word "Tied" is also increasingly used.

4. Common Match Play Formats

There are many different forms of Match Play, the most popular in professional golf tournaments such as Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup…    

Here are three main forms of Match Play:

• Single (Singles): One player competes directly with another. The player with the lowest score on each hole wins the hole.
• Four (Fourball): Two teams, each with two players, compete against each other. The player with the lowest score in each team will score against the opponent to decide the winning hole.
• Foursome: Two pairs play each other but use only one ball and take turns hitting. This is a form that requires close coordination between the two players.

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5. Why is Match Play less popular than Stroke Play?

The main reason is that organizers and broadcasters often want all the top golfers to play through several rounds to maintain their attractiveness. In Match Play, there are only two players in the final round, which can reduce the attraction to fans.  

As a result, Match Play is rarely used in professional tournaments such as the PGA Tour or the LPGA Tour, although it provides tension and attraction.

6. Play Match Play in Amateurs

Although it rarely appears in professional leagues, Match Play is very popular at the amateur and entertainment levels. This is an ideal form of play for golfers who want to experience the dramatic and direct sense of confrontation with their opponents.  

Playing Match Play is a unique and interesting form of golf, giving players a direct and dramatic sense of confrontation. Although not as popular as bat fighting, Match Play still has important spots in major tournaments such as the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, as well as in amateur golf matches. If you want to try a new style, experience Match Play to enjoy intense and tactical competitive moments!

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