Ok, peeps, I am embarassed to admit this: I have played the game for years, but I don't understand how match play works!

Say Tiger Woods beats Phil M. 3 & 2, I have no clue what that means.

Can you guys explain??

Can you guys believe I have been playing the game since 1998 and somehow still have no clue about this??

That T came into 16 with a 2 hole lead, so with 3 still to play P could win. But T wins 16 so now he is up by 3 holes with only 2 left to play. Hope that helps.

ok, I think get it, thank you for finally getting this mystery cleared up!

To provide a different scenario from Nuhips': Woods leads pcb_duffer by nine holes on the 10th tee box, and they tie that hole. Woods is now said to be dormie (usually thought to be a corruption of dormant) in that he is eight holes up with eight holes to play. This is a little less true in situations where one or the other has to win the match, like this week, than in situations where a match can be tied, but run with it. Pcb_duffer can also be said to be down dormie eight, but that's a rare usage, because the player who is up is usually mentioned first. In either case, Woods wins the 11th hole, and therefore wins the match 9 & 7. Under normal circumstances, the worst beating a player can get is 10 & 8, but there are rules scenarios where even worse beatings can happen.

As to being embarrassed, please don't be. The way to learn is to ask questions, and your ignorance is mostly a sign that you haven't played enough match play with your friends & cronies. At the last Ryder Cup, a couple of the American rookies were quoted as saying they had never played match play. I think it's a shame that too many people spend too much time playing and focusing only stroke play. Match play is a different animal; you only have to beat one person, not the whole field.

Woods' win 9&8. 8 holes left, but he is still up by 9 holes

I like matchplay. When i play alone , i assign a number (either par or bogey) to each hole and play against myself. ( Yes...it's true...i like to play with myself.)
The tough holes need , at least , a bogey to halve the hole and all other holes need a par.
It adds a bit more pressure and interest to the round. I regularly beat myself ....but sometimes the "evil" me wins the match. When that happens , i won't talk to myself for a week sometimes.

Seriously ; i think this helps me concentrate and make more pars.

Hard to believe those youngsters never were involved in match play as juniors.

JJ, sounds like a good game.

JJ, you crack me up!

Thanks Tom......i think.

Try it on a course you play regularly. I play alone too much.....hmmmmmm....so it's just a little game to apply more pressure and keep my concentration going. You can assign more pars and even birdie to holes if you are playing well that day.

I play matchplay all the time when i coerce my son into playing golf. He has "blow-up" holes....so he has no chance to beat me at stroke play...yet. He is a novice golfer that will, regularly , hit the most beautiful drives you have ever seen. Skyscraper high and really...REALLY ..LONG ! At 6'4" and a skinny 184 ...he hits the ball in the 320-340 yd range all the time. His pop-ups go 250....(where my ball usually is ...or shorter). He once hit a ball 388 yards on a straight away par five hole. I'm trying to teach him the short game and how not to hit his irons a mile over the green. He is starting to develop a golf game , but he does not play much
Snowing again......no golf here. Take it easy.

JJ

I have never played match play, only stroke play. Finally, I understand what those little numbers mean, 3 & 2, or whatever..thanks, guys!!!