Matchplay is the most exciting form of golf

Golf has many forms of scoring.

Most professional events are run as strokeplay, meaning that every shot is counted and the total number of shots for the entire round are totalled, with the winner being the player with the lowest total.

However, in matchplay the scoring is done per hole, so that a high score only loses the hole. Similarly a low score on a hole will only gain the hole.

Play is done by the match in a knockout format This is the format of the Ryder Cup and is generally the most exciting form of golf.

The reason that it is not used more extensively is that it does not fit TV very well. Matches can finish too quickly or go into overtime. More worryingly it is difficult for the favourite to win, every week, and we all like a winner!

The world's best golfers have one more week to secure their position inside the top 64 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and qualify for the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.

This week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on the PGA TOUR and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour are the last two events awarding OWGR points prior to Monday's deadline.

The top 64 players in the OWGR as of Monday, February 14, will qualify for the Accenture Match Play Championship, February 21-27 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain.

In Bermuda we have the equivalent in the Bermuda Matchplay Championship, but instead of a having to be in the world rankings, players enter and there is a qualifying round.

Flights of 16 are created so you have to be in the top 16 to be the in the Championship, otherwise you are in brackets with players with similar scores in the qualifying.

In matchplay the strategy can be completely different. It is important to put the other player under pressure, which can be done by hitting first and hitting the green

It is always difficult to follow your opposition onto the green once they have hit the green. Similarly there are many stories of players playing poorly and still winning by holing crucial putts.

Matchplay is the ultimate form of golf and most tournaments were played that way until relatively recently.

Luck

In the Accenture matchplay next week, there will be no easy matches, it will be possible to play well and lose your match, because your opponent played a little better.

One can argue that it is the luck of the draw, but that is half of the fun.

The PGA of Bermuda sponsors the Fritz Reiter Matchplay Championship and is always fun with it throwing up odd results.

Cornell Bean was the dominant force in these matches winning the matchplay title eight times as his strong tee to green game would overpower most players.

Jarryd Dillas was the same last year with his strong driving and awesome ball striking making it difficult for his opposition to keep up.

When I have personally played in these kind of events, it is interesting to notice that some competitors will deliberately choose not to watch their opponents play as they are so impressive it would put them off there game.

So if you get to play one of these matches — be it against Tiger Woods or Jarryd Dillas, — one of the keys is not to watch them play, and just play your own game.

The Matchplay Championship is in March with the closing date for entries set for February 26.