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

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Etymology

Origin of match play

First recorded in 1885–90

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

match play

With match play, players compete to win individual holes, so if you land in an unraked bunker, and need three strokes to get out of it, you simply lose that hole.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

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 ● Jun. 20, 2024

Excerpts from a women’s soccer match play on a screen; she says nothing, her slouching body in silent contrast to the athletes’ lean physiques.

From New York Times ● Feb. 6, 2024

"It's the perfect start. They got leads early on which is paramount in match play," said captain Luke Donald.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2023

The ground for match play measures 35 yds. by 28 yds., and should be carefully marked out with white lines.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various

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