All square standing over the final approach shot on the last hole.
Paul is 120 out. Instead of pulling a wedge like a normal human, he reaches for the putter. Of course he does. For most people, this is an impossible shot. For Pauly, it’s routine. The man can’t chip for shit, but give him a putter from anywhere inside postcode distance and he’s dangerous.
He strokes it. Clean. Confident. The ball trundles up, climbs the false front, keeps tracking, and stops dead inside three metres. Close enough to apply pressure. Far enough to make you feel it.
Now it’s my turn.
I’m 60 out. Longer off the tee as always 😉, which means absolutely nothing if you can’t capitalise. The question isn’t distance. It’s nerve. Can I put it inside Paul’s ball and flip the pressure back on him?
I clip it cleanly. It flies past the hole, checks, spins… and creeps back to within a metre.
Tap-in range.
I knock it in for three.
Now it’s on Paul. He needs the putt to halve the hole. And if you’re writing the script, this goes in. Putting is his weapon. This is what he does.
He lines it up. Strikes it well.
Everyone holds their breath.
The ball rolls end over end, tracking dead centre. It looks in the whole way. Then, in the last few centimetres, it dips. Just enough. Misses the cup.
Awwww
Game over.
One up.
That’s the match to Fanale……
A Little History - Fanale vs Khoury
2026 marks the third year Paul and I have run our own match play tournament on the side of every game we tee up together. Each year, I get two boxes of golf balls, custom stamped with our match play logo and our names to identify the winner. Paul’s box reads “Fanale Winner”. Mine reads “Khoury Winner.” At the end of every match, the loser hands over the ball as a trophy, and if you win a lot, it's also a great start to your next year's stock of balls.
In 2024, it was tight. A proper arm wrestle. But I took the chocolates, closing out the year 22–17.
Then came 2025. And let’s just say there were no arms being wrestled.
Paul got absolutely smashed 28–14. So demoralised, in fact, that before the year even ended, he offered to hand over all the balls without winning them. I made him stick it out on principle. He still handed over all the balls. 😂🏆
Which meant that heading into 2026, the ledger read:
Series: 2–0
Overall match count: 50–31
Not that anyone’s counting.
To his credit, Paul has started 2026 on a high note. Helped, no doubt, by what is now a 20-something handicap, he currently leads the year 2–1. It’s early days, so there’s still hope he can make it competitive.
He may need to buy new clubs. Oh, wait, that’s what he did last year.
All jokes aside, I genuinely love this side comp with my buddy. It adds another layer to the round. A bit more tension and a lot more banter. And even though we’re competing hard, we still want each other to play well. A win never feels as good when the golf gods are not with your opposition.
That’s the thing with match play. It’s different.
And when there’s something on the line, even something as ridiculous as a single golf ball, the tension just hits harder.
And that’s exactly why we keep doing it.
Why Match Play Hits Different
Stroke and Stableford are good formats, but they are all about your own game, and in my case, the never-ending pursuit of becoming a single-digit handicapper. 🤞🏽
In Match Play, the focus is on one thing. Beating your opposition, and that’s exactly why it’s brilliant.
You’re not playing the course. You’re playing the person standing next to you. Every shot has context. Every decision is layered. A safe shot can be the wrong shot. A risky play can be the smartest thing you do all day.
You can make a double and still win the hole. You can hit a great shot and still get beaten because your opponent hit a better one.
You can win without being perfect, and let’s face it, when it comes to golf, no one is perfect. Not even Tiger.
Why It’s a Great Format to Play
Pressure shows up early.
You don’t need to wait until the back nine. Pressure exists on the first tee. One mistake and momentum shifts immediately.
It rewards strategy, not just a good swing.
Knowing when to attack, when to apply pressure, and when to let your opponent self-destruct is half the game.
It keeps everyone engaged
No one is “out of it” after a bad hole. As long as there are enough holes left, you can always chase down a lead.
It exposes personalities
Some players tighten up. Some talk more. Some go quiet. Match play doesn’t just test your golf; it tests your character.
How Match Play Actually Works
(Without the Boring Bits)
At its simplest, match play is hole-by-hole warfare.
You win a hole, you go 1 up
Lose a hole, you go 1 down
Tie a hole, it’s halved
Being “all square” means the match is level
The match ends when one player is up more holes than remain
No cumulative scores. No grinding over an early triple bogey.
Every hole is a fresh fight.
Match Play Strategies
How to Win Your Next Match
Match play isn’t about shooting your lowest score. It’s about winning the moment in front of you. Here are a few strategies that genuinely move the needle.
Play the Player, Not the Course
If your opponent is in trouble, you don’t need to be a hero. The middle of the green suddenly becomes the smartest target in golf. Let them make the mistake. Match play rewards patience more than bravado.
Apply Pressure Early
A good opening hole does more than put you 1 up. It plants doubt. Even small wins early force your opponent to start chasing. And chasing leads to bad decisions.
Know When to Attack
Attack when:
Your opponent has already missed the green
They’re short-sided or in a bunker
You can put it inside their ball
That’s when aggressive golf makes sense. Not because it’s flashy, but because it forces a response.
Inside Their Ball Changes Everything
Putting your approach or chip inside your opponent’s ball flips the script instantly. Even good putters feel it. Even confident players rush. Proximity is pressure.
Concede Smartly
Early concessions can lull an opponent into a false sense of security. Late concessions can remove rhythm. Don’t give away putts because you’re being nice. Give them away because it helps your momentum.
Short Memory, Short Leash
Lost a hole with a blow-up? Forget it. You’re only ever one hole down. Match play punishes sulking more than bad swings.
Silence Is a Weapon
You don’t need to talk trash. Calm, steady behaviour after both good and bad shots is unsettling. Confidence without noise is hard to read, and that’s the point.
Finish Strong
The biggest mistake in match play is playing not to lose. If you’ve got a chance to close someone out, take it. Matches swing hardest near the end, and momentum is ruthless.