Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Wednesday 27 March 2019
There's a reason Match Play is

only once a year

By DOUG FERGUSON
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Rory
McIlroy loves match play
because he believes it is
the purest form of golf.

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, Most would agree.
serves to Roberto Bautista He also prefers single elimi-
Agut, of Spain, during the Mi- nation, which he referred
ami Open tennis tournament, to as "straight knockout." In
Tuesday, March 26, 2019, in simple terms, lose and go
Miami Gardens, Fla. home.
Associated Press Most players would agree
Djokovic on that, too, with a few ex-
ceptions.
It wasn't much fun for
upset in Thomas Bjorn, who in two
straight appearances flew
4th round from Dubai to San Diego
and lost after 13 holes of
the opening round. And
in Miami for those who believe the Tiger Woods plays a shot from a bunker on the 16th hole during a practice round at the Dell Match
word "upset" doesn't ap-
ply at this level of golf, they Play Championship golf tournament, Tuesday, March 26, 2019, in Austin, Texas.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) probably didn't see Ernie Els Associated Press
— Top seed Novak Djokov- after he lost in the opening
ic was upset by Roberto round to Phil Tataurangi. had a share of the lead on the purest form of golf. But Casey said one sponsor
Bautista Agut 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 in What this World Golf Cham- the final day. In the Match no more than that. proposal sent to — and
the fourth round of the Mi- pionship has shown is that Play, it comes down to two "Wearing my player's hat, I rejected by — the Play-
ami Open Tuesday. golf is no longer all about players over the final four would love to see straight ers Advisory Council was
The world No. 1 was look- competition. hours, and that's assuming knockout again," Paul match play until the week-
ing to win his 850th match This is the entertainment it lasts that long. Watson Casey said. "But I under- end, two players from each
but fell short. business. only had to play 12 holes to stand it from trying to sell this group advancing and 32
Djokovic was leading 6-1, It's not just about birdies win. from a corporate sponsor's players competing in stroke
4-5 when rain delayed and bogeys. It's television There are 12 matches in- point of view, from an en- play over the final two
play for 30 minutes. Return- and corporate hospitality. volving 24 players on Satur- tertainment point of view. days. That would be about
ing to the court, Djokovic That's why Match Play day. There are four match- You want as much golf as the size of the Tour Champi-
surrendered his serve on a switched to group play in es involving the same four possible on the weekend." onship field.
second break point in the 2015, and it's difficult to players on Sunday, and They want as much golf as One problem.
12th game to lose the sec- argue with the results. Af- that includes the conso- possible on the whole golf "What would you call it?"
ond set. ter 16 years of a few sur- lation match, which is for course. Casey said, chuckling at
Djokovic recouped one prises — Jeff Maggert and world ranking points, FedEx Imagine having a corpo- the idea that stroke play
service break in the third Kevin Sutherland come to Cup points, the difference rate hospitality tent on the would decide the Match
set, but he lost his serve mind — the winners under of $138,000 and mostly 18th hole. Last year, only Play champion.
again in the sixth game to the new format have been something to fill dead time three of the 16 matches He also has heard sugges-
fall behind 2-4. Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, on television. on the weekend even tions about stroke play for
Djokovic holds a 7-3 career Dustin Johnson and Bubba What would make the con- reached the 18th hole. qualifying and then using
record over Bautista Agut, Watson. solation match compelling "If I lose on Wednesday, I only the back nine for 18-
but the Spaniard has now McIlroy and Johnson joined is having Tiger Woods. In his want to go home," Casey hole matches so the gallery
beaten him the past two Tiger Woods as the only No. 13 appearances, Woods said. "As much golf and and corporate clients in
times they've played. 1 seeds to win. Day was the has lost in every round ex- excitement and drama to tents can see more action.
The 22nd-seeded Bautista No. 2 seed. Watson, the cept the semifinals. Put him the end is ideal, but I don't "There's some outside-the-
Agut defeated Djokovic in two-time Masters champi- in the consolation match, know what the solution is." box thinking going on," he
a three-set semifinal at the on, is considered the outlier and it would be fun to com- Gone from the single elimi- said.
Qatar Open in January. in this context as the No. 35 pare which match had the nation is the excitement of More changes are possi-
Earlier in the day, defend- seed. biggest gallery and how Wednesday, when half the ble, if not likely. Remember,
ing champion John Isner So something is going right. much TV time each would field was sent home. the championship match
advanced to the quarter- But even with the change, it get. The group play still has a used to be 36 holes until
finals with a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) still doesn't solve one prob- This is why the PGA Champi- sense of urgency in the it was changed to an 18-
win over 19th-seeded Kyle lem that exists in just about onship abandoned match opening session, or at hole final in 2011. Is it pos-
Edmund. Isner pounded 17 any format — the longer play in 1958. least it should. No one has sible to reduce the length
aces and lost one service the tournament goes, the And it's why the PGA Tour ever lost on Wednesday of the matches to nine
game in the match. He sur- less interesting it gets be- never once considered and won since the switch holes so there could be
rendered the ninth game cause there are fewer pos- any form of match play to to group play. Only eight more matches, more play-
of the first set at love. sibilities. decide the FedEx Cup at players have lost their ers, more possibilities on the
Isner has played five tie- Think back to The Players the Tour Championship. It is first match and won their weekend?
breakers in six sets during Championship two weeks good to have match play group, with Bill Haas in 2017 Anything should be on the
his three match wins.q ago when eight players once a year because it is reaching the semifinals. table.q