So match 2, I recieve 4 shots. His HI 10.7 (PH 12), mine 15.2 (PH 16)
1st - SI 9 - Halved in pars - a solid start to the match.
2nd - SI 17 - He sunk a miracle birdie putt to take the hole. I made par so wasnt too displeased with my effort. 1 DOWN
3rd - SI 15 - both hit the green, but what good is that when you 3 putt? Gutted for my opponent - not! BD wins the hole with a par ALL SQUARE
4th - SI 3 - First shot hole and I make it count, a great approach shot leaves me with a simple 2 putt for bogey, opponent gets up and down for bogey too but the shot brings me the win - BD 1 UP
5th - SI 13 - Par 3's are great fun when youre striking it well, GIR again for me, opponent missed long left, I sink it for par and take the hole. BD 2 UP
6th - SI 7 - The first par 5, I didnt hit the best of drives, very windy out there and it seemed to hold up. Could have gone either way but my opponent hit a glorious approach from 140 in and stuck it to around 3 foot and sunk ti for par. I made bogey - still not too disappointed but lost the hole. BD 1 UP
7th - SI 1 - Second shot hole. Opponent layed up before a brook at about 180 so I did the same. Matched each others shots all the way, halved the hole in 5's but again, made the shot count and took the win. BD 2 UP
8th - SI 5 - Sliced my tee shot OB... Why do the golf gods hate me. Long story short - BD 1 UP....
9th - SI 11 - Opponent plays a blinder on this short dog leg par 4. Yet again stiffs it to a few foot and drains the birdie putt to pull it all level through 9. Great game so far.
So all square through 9. Both playing well.
10th - SI 12 - Tricky little par 3 but both of us sink pars here and match how we started the front 9. Hole halved and onto the next.
11th - SI 8 - My turn to play a great approach shot. 148 middle, into wind, possibly the nicest 8 iron ive hit from the rough ever, tight draw and finishes about 4 foot away. Opponent is chipping on for 3 and leaves it about 6 feet away so I casually take the 2 putt and the hole win. BD back 1 UP!
12th - SI 4 - First shot hole on the back 9, snap hook left into some large conifers and find my ball at the bottom in the brush. Opponent creams a drive down the middle with wind assisting.. I made a double, he made par. ALL SQUARE
13th - SI 10 - Both hit good drives, back into the wind again here. I hit 7 iron into the green, again lovely shot, opponent missed short right, repeat of hole 11. BD wins the hole with a par and BD 1 UP
14th - SI 18 - Short par 3, wind with(ish) both hit the right side of the green, both 2 putted, both walk away with pars. Hole halved. BD 1 UP
15th - SI 2 - Im having issues with this hole in match play... its short but tight. 332 yards off the whites but OB right and "you wont find that" left. Took a dodgey hybrid and was playing catch up from there. I did well though, made bogey, opponent made par but my shot here helped ease the blow and I remained 1 up
16th - SI 14 - Par 3 again, 3's have been going well today. 8 iron fell about 10 yards short into the wind. Gutted. Opponent took a steady 7 and made the green. Simply sank his 2 putt for the win. I made bogey. ALL SQUARE.
17th - SI 6 - After our drives here, I wasnt hopeful. He had a good 40 yards on me but I was just playing my own game. steady 7 iron followed by a PW had me on the green in 3. Opponents second went right, very right. took him 5 to make the green and he finished with a double. I made bogey after a bit of dodgey putting but im thrilled. BD 1 UP, 1 to play.
The 18th. SI 16.
I explained how weird our 18th was last time. Its a make them or break them hole. Its eagle-able but its also an easy card/ score killer. Today, the hole was not my friend. My tee shot faded too far right and into the brook running down the hole. Gutted would be an understatement. I had tried to play it safe, didnt pull driver, just a 3 wood to be safe. Stupid idiot. Opponent creamed a drive just short of the green, chipped on and made a birdie.. Back to all square after 18.
So back to the first!
Sliced my tee shot OB. Never recovered. Opponent made par and with it, took the game. But what a game it was. I shot a gross 82, 39 points. Opponent played to 6 over and had 43 points. If thats not a great match bringing the best out of each other, I dont know what is. Happy I took him so far, disappointed I couldnt capitalise and go 2 up at any stage on the back 9. Just felt like whatever I did, he had an answer for it on the next hole.
I wanted the final post in this thread to be a picture of my holding the match play trophy aloft with fireworks in the background. Alas this will not be happening in 2022.
I have learned a lot in these couple of matches though, positive thinking really is the king in match play.
I also think match play brings the best out of me. Looking forward to the pairs coming up soon with my old man alongside - with him off around 18 and me in this form, we could be a dangerous pairing!
Up the forum.
