match play

American  

noun

Golf.

1. play in which the score is reckoned by counting the holes won by each side.

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match play British  

noun

1. golf Compare Stableford stroke play

   1. scoring according to the number of holes won and lost

   2. ( as modifier )

      a matchplay tournament

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Other Word Forms

• match player noun

Etymology

Origin of match play

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

If this were 1974, TV fans could have seen this knock-down, grudge match play out in real time.

From Los Angeles Times

Woods will be among 264 players who will go through 36 holes of stroke play on the North and South courses at Oakland Hills to determine which 64 players advance to match play.

From Seattle Times

Rachel Heck delivered the final point in a 3-2 victory and the celebration was on for Stanford, the No. 1 team and the top seed going into match play.

From Seattle Times

We'll see if that has any impact on how the match plays out.

From BBC

The top-ranked Korda was tied for fifth place with Narin An when she finished her round, and the top eight advance to match play Saturday.

From Seattle Times