What Ever Happened To Match Play?

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.