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

The Ryder Cup takes place every two years and sees 24 of the best players from Europe and the United States go head-to-head over three days in match play competition.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

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

Training for match play is rather a difficult subject for me to write about, for I have never gone in for proper "training."

From Lawn Tennis for Ladies by Lambert Chambers, Mrs.