How Golf Match Play Works Explainer
Match play is head-to-head golf in which each hole is a separate contest. The lower score wins the hole and equal scores tie it. The running score is expressed as holes up or down, not total strokes.
A match ends when one side leads by more holes than remain. A result of 3 and 2 means the winner was three ahead with only two holes left. Tied matches that require a winner usually continue hole by hole.
A player may concede an opponent’s next stroke, a hole, or the match. A clear concession is final and cannot be declined or withdrawn. A short putt is not automatically good; the opponent must concede it.
Some procedures differ from stroke play because the contest directly affects one opponent. Order of play can matter, and an opponent may require an out-of-turn stroke to be replayed. The match-play rules and event terms control.
Each hole is won, lost, or tied.
The whole-round stroke total does not decide the match.
Play stops once the lead exceeds the holes remaining.
A 3-and-2 result records both facts.
A player may concede a stroke, hole, or match.
Once clearly made, the concession is final.
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