In matchplay, how can your opponent be 4 up after playin 2 holes?

Question

In matchplay, how can your opponent be 4 up after playin 2 holes?

Answer 1

You can't.  Even if you committed penalties on the first two holes, it would be loss of the hole, so your opponent would be up 2up over you.

I play matchplay every other weekend...it's just not possible.  You can only lose one hole each hole, the worst beating you would take would be 10 and 8, if your opponent won the first 10 holes.

Answer 2

impossible, since the score is by the hole, not the number of shots.  if you beat a guy on the first hole par to bogey, you're one up.  on the second hole, you get an eagle and he gets a bogey... you're two up, regardless.

That's usually why you'll see people concede their opponents' bogey putts when they've already made par (or concede a par putt when they've made birdie, etc.).  The bogey putt has no relevance to the outcome of the hole, plus it saves time.

Answer 3

when one person has 2 birdies and the other person has 2 pars

Answer 4

Do you have a paticular example of this happening? As I don't believe it is possible, unless my understanding of match play rules is wrong.  After two holes I believe the most you can be up or down is 2, since each hole only has a possibility of a change of 1 either direction.

Answer 5

umm, that is impossible. your opponent can onnly be up 2 after playing 2 holes

Answer 6

isn't that like impossible????

Answer 7

They can't be four up after two holes.  In match play you play to win the hole - the most you could be ahead after two holes is two up.

Answer 8

If your opponent was carrying more than 14 clubs, the status of the match will be adjusted for each hole they carried the extra club. The maximum penalty is 2 holes.

If they find out after playing the second hole, they "lose" two additional holes.

So, if you won both holes, then your opponent realized he had 15 clubs in his bag, the score would be adjusted so that you are now 4-up.

Decision 4-4a/9.

Edit: This is one example directly from the USGA rule book. Follow the link and read it for yourselves! There may be other examples, also.

Answer 9

thts impossible...... you need 2 explain more

Answer 10

I don't think this is actually possible.  Your opponent can only up or down by the number of holes played so far.  ie. played 2, opponent is 2 up, played 4, opponent is 4 up.

Answer 11

John F is correct on this one..  a player can be 4-up after 2 holes if the other player is carrying 15 or more clubs in his/her bag..  check rule 4-4a/9..

Answer 12

Are you sure you are not thinking of 4 up with 2 to go (4 and 2)?

You cannot be up 4 after 2 holes.  You get one for wach hole you win.  so after 2 holes, if one player won both holes, he would bt Up 2.