In golf’s early years, match play style tournaments were far more widespread than they are today.
The US Amateur, which was considered one of golf’s majors many years ago as well as the PGA Championship, were both match play events.
Today, the only time we really see professionals engage in a match play style tournament is during the Accenture World Golf Championship, the Ryder Cup, and President’s Cup.
The US Amateur is still decided through a match play format; however, the US Amateur is no longer considered one of golf’s major championships.
There have recently been some rumblings of implementing a match play style event to decide the winner of the FedEx Cup.
For fans, there is nothing more exciting than watching two great players battle it out in a match play format.
So, why have match play events all but died over the years?
My position typically always falls on whatever side makes things more exciting for the fans.
However, in this case, I have to side with argument against match play, despite my own personal affection for watching a good old fashion match play duel.
The object of the game of golf is to get around the course while recording the least amount of strokes.
Match play does not necessarily adhere to that objective.
A player could easily win a match while carding a higher overall score.
For example, on a course that opens with three par fours and a par five. Under a match play format, a player could record a 6, 7, 4, and 4 on the first four holes, which amounts to a total score of 21; while his opponent could record a 4, 4, 5, and 5, which amounts to a total score of 18.
Now, under a match play format, this match would be all square heading to the fifth hole despite one of the contestants recording three less strokes on the first four holes.
That scenario, more or less, goes against the general objective of the game and is the main reason why the pros ultimately dislike any mention of match play.
Despite a common view that a head-to-head match is the most logical way to identify the better player, on many occasions match play does not achieve it’s objective of identifying the better player on that particular day.
Match play is indeed a far more exciting format to watch as a fan; however, the PGA Tour’s movement away for the match play format has preserved the game in its purest form and now is not the time to go back on that.
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about 1 month ago
I disagree, you get tournament after tournament of samey 72 hole strokeplay events. At least if there is a weaker field matchplay can liven things up a bit. The problem is that the majoirty of the field is eliminated early on, and inevitably you may lose tiger, phil, sergio etc too early and that detracts from the tournament, even if they are only making up the numbers and not challenging for the lead. Plus, its bad for tv if the final is one sided and there is no-one else to watch.
Despite these issues, some of the most exciting events use matchplay - look at the ryder and president's cups. I really think that the USPGA should revert to matchplay, it would be different, and set up the possibility of exciting duels plus it would give the USPGA its own identity, which is doesn't have. Right now, its just the fourth major. Look at past champions when it was a matchplay - Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Waler Hagen, and Gene Sarazen.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comment, Steve.
I am not in any way disputing how much more exciting matchplay can be. I personally love watching matchplay events.
The point of my article was to show why matchplay goes against the most basic objective of the game of golf and does not do a good job in determining a better golfer.
Many times someone will lose a matchplay match while shooting a lower score. The ultimate objective of golf is to get around the course while taking the least strokes.
Take a guy like Hunter Mahan. Mahan is one of the most streaky players around. He could easily string together 4 or 5 straight birdies (as he did in the recent Kiwi challenge where he went -6 in five holes). However, Mahan will also mix in many bogey and double bogeys.
In a matchplay event, Mahan could easily come out on top of a player such as Tiger Woods by stringing together a bunch of birdies. However, Woods very well might shoot a lower score than Mahan and could very likely shoot a much lower score than him over 72 holes, thus their matchplay event would not have identified the better golfer and might not even have identified the better golfer on that particular day.
Again, I do enjoy watching matchplay probably even better than strokeplay. However, matchplay is a hit or miss format that does not necessarily identify the better golfer.
Thanks again
about 1 month ago
Yeah it's not just bad for TV because the stars get knocked out, but there's nothing to show in between shots.
I would like to see more matchplay events, but I have to say I probably wouldn't make time to tune into the final if two no names were playing.
With all the parity in golf, you almost count on some guy from the pack getting hot and doing a Ben Hogan imitation for 4 days, then not make a cut for the next 4 years.
Poor Tiger, he should have 25 majors already.
about 1 month ago
Thanks for the responses.
Well, I think it is a fair point you make that strokeplay will reward a consistent golfer who can avoid bogeys. On the other hand, matchplay will often encourage aggressive play and more birdies. The key differences is that you have to win more holes than your opponent, and I suppose that is quite a different objective from strokeplay. I think that is why you see loads of birdies in matchplay because the worse that can happen is the loss of one hole.
I play golf here in the UK and outside of Monthly Club competions, which are strokeplay events, almost all golf played here is matchplay. I don't think that this is the case in the US?
If I am meeting up to play with four others, almost always we will play a fourball match, if there are three, it is more likely to be Stableford or Skins, and two players - again - almost always matchplay. I cannot recall ever playing strokeplay outside of a club competition (although I will keep an eye on my score). At Muirfield, a course I live close to, if you are a visitor you are only allowed to play alterntate shot (foursomes) in the morning and fourball in the afternoon!!
For the less gifted golfer matchplay is more fun because you can't mess up the whole day on one shot.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comment Steve.
I knew that matchpaly was a played a lot more often in the UK than here in American but I did not know it was played as often as you mentioned. Thanks for letting me know about that, I always like to learn about how others around the world play golf.
We do play matchplay here with friends and many club championships or tournaments for amatures are played with a matchplay format.
Many times with friends we will play fourball but we also often play stroke play adjusted for handicaps.
For example, I play at around a 14 and my brother plays at a 6 handicap. Many times it is just the two of us playing so we play a strokeplay match where he gives me 8 strokes on various holes depending upon the handicap difficulty of the holes.
This is a fun way to play also because in a straight up matchplay he would obviously demolish me but with handicapped stroke play we are on a level playing field so the one who plays better is relation to their skill level will win that day.
Thanks again.
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