#PGATour #findmatchplay #event
https://gotopnews.com/post/2411545
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are officially two best golfers in world, but neither of them made it to finals at last WGC Match Play held in Austin, Texas. Had they both won the semi-finals on Sunday morning, it would have provided an exciting send-off to the tournament. Instead, it was Sam Burns against Cameron Young in an American final that was comfortably won by Burns 6&5. But while an undercard competition usurped what most observers wanted for the main event—McIlroy beat Scheffler in a “consolation match”—last week’s action highlighted the stupidity of allowing this interesting rivalry to slip out of future schedules. Interestingly, since its inception in 1999, Match Play has rarely taken shape, where opponents go head-to-head trying to punch an undefeated hole. In the opening finale, world number 25 Jeff Maggert defeated 51st ranked player Andrew Magee in the second extra hole. They identified a trend where sadness is often the order of the day. Indeed, in 24 runs, McIlroy and Dustin Johnson are the only reigning world number-ones outside of Tiger Woods to make it to the finals four times—2000, 03, 04 and 08. As Sunday’s semifinals proved, head-to-head combat is much more difficult to predict in golf than in a sport like tennis, where a player’s dominance is more easily determined. On Matchplay, golf becomes much more interesting to watch. Opponents play more aggressively when the worst that can happen is losing a hole rather than a tournament-destroying explosion. While the group stage format, which featured a straight knockout in 2015, offers potential second chances, there is always the compulsion to beat your opponent. And Saturday’s last 16 games and quarterfinals made a truly fascinating day of golf – a day that leaves you scrambling for TV remote when the screen tells you remote has been on too long and is about to turn off. However, with emergence of PGA Tour’s “designated” events in response to threat of lucrative LIV tour, there seems to be no room for this tournament anymore. Sadly he will be missed. John Wood, a former top caddy and now a knowledgeable and insightful commentator for NBC, tweeted “The PGA Tour cannot abandon the matchmaking game. “One week a year. It’s so refreshing and fun to watch, play, comment on. I think the players and fans love it. Maybe one of the designated events will take a look at it. It will keep them afloat.” Find a way to keep it inside.” The tournament always serves unforgettable moments. One such example was McIlroy’s monumental four-foot 375-yard drive on par-4 18 last week to help him secure a spot in the qualifying stages. And few who see it will forget that Bob McIntyre did something similar against Dustin Johnson a few years ago. Sergio Garcia’s breakup with Matt Kuchar in 2019 and Keegan Bradley’s challenge to Miguel Angel Jimenez in 2015 might not be the tastiest sports moments, but they sparked a lot of passionate interest. The challenge of match play is that it only comes down to a few matches for the final day, which can make keeping up the engaging TV broadcast a real challenge. Perhaps running the tournament alongside a women’s match game event would be the solution? Let both share limelight with coverage at the same time, and sharp ends of both won’t feel so sparse. Regardless, let’s hope the magic of match play isn’t forgotten as the majority of golf progresses. He does this while in a jolly mood after McIlroy’s undoubtedly successful comeback from his missed cut at the Players earlier this month. A new golf club — a return to the flat club shape enjoyed early career success in — and a slightly shorter, smoother drive shaft paid dividends at Austin Country Club, where he amassed two eagles and 44 birds on the 123 holes played. . Now it’s about arranging for a ninth attempt to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters. “For the first week out, I thought both ends of the bag worked pretty well,” he thought. “I don’t think anything is bad, so I’m going to just let things run their course and work on the shots I need for Augusta National.” McIlroy is rightfully invigorated for the challenges ahead, as are British golfers Matt Wallace, David Skinns and Georgia Hall. On Sunday, Wallace secured his first PGA Tour title in 80 tries, winning the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic. It is an opposing field event, so it is not suitable for victorious Masters, but remains a remarkable victory. The 33-year-old heads to the Texas Open in San Antonio for one last bow in Augusta. “I hope I can do this again and then go to the Masters,” Wallace said. “But if not, I’ll go home and it’ll be really nice to take home a trophy. I haven’t been able to do this for five years and I’ve wanted to for a long time.” Skinns is a 41-year-old Lincoln boy who took his third win in
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