Matchplay golf, in its purest form, is decisively straightforward. The winner ploughs on, the loser gans hame. There are no second chances in this type of head-to-head golfing combat and the opportunity for an underdog to become a top dog has always been one of the format’s alluring charms.
Of course, in the money-soaked industry of the professional game, this kind of unpredictable, win-or-pack-yer-bags formula leaves tournament organisers, sponsors and TV companies squirming like a bag of speared eels at the crushing prospect of the star attractions departing on the first day and the anti-climax of a final between Billy Whatshisface and Joe Whitdoyoucallhim.
So what do you do? That’s right. You cobble together some round-robin group system for the initial exchanges which means everybody is guaranteed at least three ties regardless of whether they win or get well and truly horsed. In essence, you’re trying to engineer some way to make sure the big names progress.
In Texas this week, there are plenty of marquee players involved in the WGC Dell Technologies Matchplay Championship. Indeed, 62 of the top 64 in the world are in Austin and are spread across 16 groups of four.
READ MORE: Nick Rodger's Tuesday golf column
For the first time since 2013, meanwhile, Tiger Woods will contest an event he has won three times before. It’s now 20 years since the WGC Matchplay Championship came on the scene.
Woods was 23 when he contested the inaugural event in 1999 and had just one major title to his name. In the first round he came up against the 41-year-old, six-time major champion Nick Faldo. The result? A 4&3 win for the new superstar on the block. “I’m not going to feel sorry for him,” Woods said of an ageing Faldo. “He’s had his chances to win tournaments.”
Here in 2019, Woods is the 40-something as he makes what will be his last competitive appearance before next month’s Masters.
Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, could clamber to the world No.1 spot this week but would almost require the stars to align and the golfing gods to link hands in something resembling a cosmic cornucopia of consequences.
The 29-year-old needs to win the title while current world No.1 Dustin Johnson would have to fail to reach the semis and Justin Rose would have to finish outside the leading three.
READ MORE: Doubting McIlroy is a fool's game
Should both McIlroy and Woods progress from their respective groups, they would meet in the knock-out stages.
There are plenty of what-ifs and what-about-thats. But, as we all know, matchplay golf can easily veer away from the scripts.
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