Match play
Players or sides compete to win individual holes.
Each hole is a separate contest. The lower score wins that hole; equal scores leave the match unchanged. Winning a hole by three strokes has the same effect on the match as winning it by one.
Three holes, one match
| Hole | Casey | Jordan | Match position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 5 | Casey 1 up |
| 2 | 7 | 4 | All square |
| 3 | 4 | 5 | Casey 1 up |
Casey wins two of these three holes, despite taking 15 strokes to Jordan’s 14. Match position follows holes won, rather than the combined stroke total.
Reading the score
“1 up” means a player leads by one hole. “All square” means neither player leads. A result of “2 & 1” means the winner led by two holes with one hole left, so the match was already decided.
Concessions and handicaps
An opponent can concede the next stroke, a hole or the match. In a handicap match, use the allocated strokes before deciding who won a hole. A tie after the scheduled holes is settled under that competition’s terms.
Individual matches earn points toward a team total.
Additional information
2023 Rules of Golf, with current clarifications