Being an Excellent Match-Play Competitor

By RICK MARTINO, Scripps Howard News Service

Watching the best players in the world go head-to-head in match-play competition is, in my opinion, among the most enjoyable spectator experiences in golf. The weekend's PGA Tour WGC Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, Ariz., is a good example of a bracketed, individual match-play competition, while the Ryder Cup, which takes place Sept. 19-21 this year at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., is the world's premier team match-play competition.

There was a time, however, when many of golf's major competitions used the match-play format. That's the way the PGA Championship started in 1916, and remained until converting to stroke-play format in 1958. Dow Finsterwald, who lost to Lionel Hebert the previous year in the finals of the last PGA Championship to use match play, bounced back to win the inaugural stroke-play PGA Championship with a 4-under-par 276 at Llanerch Country Club in Havertown, Pa.

One of the reasons that the PGA Championship and other professional golf tournaments converted to stroke play was the rise of the influence of television. The problem for television broadcasts with a match-play championship is that one player can be eliminated very early in a competition, as Phil Mickelson was this past Thursday. But in addition to the Ryder Cup and the WGC event, many friendly rounds and local competitions are still conducted at match play, and they are as much fun to play in as they are to watch.

So, what does it take to be an excellent match-play competitor?





Here are eight key strategies:

-- Know your game's strengths and weaknesses and plan strategies that fit them.

-- Play the course, not your opponent.

-- Understand the rules of golf as they apply to match play.

-- Tee off first when possible to put pressure on your opponent's tee shot (assuming you hit a quality shot).

-- Try to finish the hole first so the pressure is on your opponent's final putt.

-- Always plan on your opponent hitting a quality shot.

-- Focus only on the match you are in now -- do not look ahead to other potential matches.

-- Never give up or concede, as momentum can turn around in match play very quickly.

What types of golfers make the best match players? Many golfers think it is long hitters who can make a lot of birdies, but the list of winners in Ryder Cup matches often shows it is the steady players and strong putters who do better than the "go for broke" home-run hitters. Look for U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger to take a long look at the steady, solid putting types when he makes his four captain picks to round out a team that will surely be headed by long-hitting mega-talents like Tiger Woods and Mickelson later this year.

For information on this year's PGA Championship and Ryder Cup, as well as instruction, equipment and travel advice from PGA Professionals, visit www.PGA.com. To locate a PGA facility near you that offers playing and learning opportunities, as well as PGA professionals who can advise you on all aspects of the game, visit www.PlayGolfAmerica.com.

Until next time, here's to better golf!

Have a look at The Simple Golf Swing for tips on how to improve your game!

(Rick Martino is director of instruction at the PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Golf Tips is a feature of Scripps Treasure Coast (Fla.) Newspapers, The Stuart News, Fort Pierce Tribune and Vero Beach Press Journal.)