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

Rolapp said that the points system would be simplified and that match play could be introduced at either the Tour Championship or for the entire postseason.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2024

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

Steinitz, who beats them both in match play, does not essay more than six blindfold at a time.

From Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development by Sir Francis Galton

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