LPGA 'Match Play'... Changed to a Mixed Stroke Format

T-Mobile Match Play Stroke + Match Play
Clash on April 5 at Shadow Creek, Las Vegas
96 Participants, Top 8 Stroke Players Compete in Tournament

The U.S. Women's Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour match play is changing its competition format.

Shadow Creek Golf Club, the battleground of the LPGA Tour T-Mobile Match Play

Golf Channel in the U.S. reported on the 27th (local time) that "the T-Mobile Match Play, which opens this April, will change to a format that combines stroke play." It is the only match play tournament on the LPGA Tour. It will be held for five days starting April 3 at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. The format reduces competitors through stroke play and then determines the winner through match play. The total prize money is $2 million (approximately 2.7 billion KRW).

96 players will compete in 36 holes of stroke play over two days, and those who finish tied for 65th place or better will advance to the third round. On the third day, another 18 holes of stroke play will determine the top 8 players who will enter match play. From the fourth day, the quarterfinals and semifinals of match play will take place. On the final day of the tournament, the ultimate winner will be decided through an 18-hole match play. The LPGA Tour has not officially announced the change in competition format. Last year, the event was held as the Bank of Hope Match Play. The defending champion is Pajaree Anannarukarn (Thailand).