Change matchplay format

Current 18-holes only format risks early elimination of top seeds. I suggested before giving two points for two or more stroke difference per hole and no points for bogey over double or triple bogeys. That way, each hole is played out fully. Alternatively, extend match to 27 holes! Anyway, it will be an exciting week ahead! Missing Sned and Phil though! Will there be a Tiger-Rory final spat? Unlikely....both may fall along the way with current format. Tim

Tim , Match play is match play. Change it and you have something else.

Match play produces some of the most dramatic finishes. They can happen many many times in the matches  between the 64 players. A stroke play event produces one finish.

    Enjoy the beauty of match play.

Tiger won thrice, but got knocked out by Nick last year. Has Phil ever won? I remember guys like Stenson, Geoff, Micheel was it? who somehow came out winning, playing to small crowds who mostly won't stay till Monday! Noko, you are right too just enjoy it and see the top seeds tumbling. Anyway, its goid Ryder/President Cups practice! All eyes will be on Ian Poulter!! Who is his first victim? Tim

What you are really saying is that someone ranked below Tiger should not be allowed to beat him.  Maybe they should give him a bye to the finals and if he gets beat then disqualify the other guy.

No Kinik, they r all so good they can beat each other on any day over 18 holes. To reward great shots eg eagles, aces etc, wherever there is a two stroke difference, giving two or one n half extends the battle in favor of great play. For poor play eg bogey over double bogey, it should be all square. That way play is not over till both balls sink in. Alternatively, battling over 27 holes from day one makes it tougher fir rookies to topple seeds. To win three is awesome. Tim

they r all so good they can beat each other on any day over 18 holes.

That is the beauty of match play.  I've seen guys shoot 67 and get worked by a guy that shot 63.  I've seen a guy shoot 69 and get beat by a guy that shot 72. 

Match Play to some traditionalists is true golf.  As Noko said, if you change it from what it is currently, you no longer have match play as defined by the USGA.  I would say that just off the top of my head adding a "losers" bracket could be interesting if done right.

No Tm Sng.  They should not make it more difficult for for rookies to topple top seeds.  They should not make it more difficult for anyone to topple anyoner.  It's called fair play.

And if the rookie is still ahead after 27 holes  we can change it to 36 holes?   Better still, lets just go straight to the final with  the top 2 seeds.  Of course  #2 seed  will be, using the same logic, the rookie.  Lets forget about the whole idea and award the trophy to #1 and be done  with it.

Kinik,

You are right. No 1 or No 2 seed should win....you read my thoughts. But, if No 64 wins, everyone is surprized.
:)
Tim 

Sorry, Kinik, that was meant for Noko. :)

Wouldn't surprise me.  Some golfers have a flair for the format.

Yeah, Noko, it's called an `upset', in sporting terms when a lower ranked player beats a seed, not surprizing but shocking!! :)

[it's all quiet here, because only those seeded and arrivals before this week can find each other...it's CBS's new game of hide-and-seek!?]

Maybe, even Vlad and your tracker cannot find us, without an account! or address!

Tim 

The difference between #1 and #64 is around 1 stroke on average so it's really only an upset on paper.  That's also a factor in making match play what it is.  Anyboyd at the tour level can beat anybody on any given day.  Does it suck for the fans and the networks when you get two lesser names?  Sure, but that's not really the point of match play.

Tim, I'm not sure what you want.  The wonderful thing about all sport is the unexpected. The paper winner getting humped by the outsider.  The 60/1 horse winning the Kentucky Derby.  Scotland winning the World Cup......OK OK. But you get my meaning

<blockquote class="QuoteMessage">No Tm Sng.  <br /> They should not make it more difficult for for rookies to topple top seeds.  <br /> They should not make it more difficult for anyone to topple anyoner.  <br /> It's called fair play</blockquote>

.<br /><br /><br />Shouldn't Woods be ENTITLED to win every tournament that he enters?  <br /> What's "unfair" about that?<br /><br />{Heavy sarcasm}

Ninj, I agree to Woods winning twelve in a row to beat ? Byron Nelson's streak and after winning 19 Majors, then it doesn't matter who wins! [CBS can close down after that!] :]]

No, seriously, 18-hole format is like playing one quarter for basketball or one set for tennis or 30 minutes for soccer. The room for upset is big! Tim

College basketball and specifically March Madness is one of the most exciting sporting events in the world.  Why?



Because the possibility of upset is huge and it's not a question of will there be an upset, it's a question of who and how many teams will be.



Golf is not quite the same but the format has a similar result.


As I mentioned previously, in golf a player doesn't even have to play well to win....he just has to play better than his opponent.


Based on your though process Tim, they should just cut out the first 3 days and have it be a Sunday 36 hole setup where the top 4 play and everyone else is stuff out of luck.             

No Jayhawk what Tim means is that is Tiger doesn't win golf sucks.  Lay down the hookah pipe Tim and live in the real world where noone is entitled to anything.

I'm a TW fan but even I realize trying to set it up so that it "favors" one golfer over another is just ridiculous.  Match Play is golf at its purest!