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New Format For WGC-Cadillac Match Play Will Keep Better Players Around Longer

A new format for the WGC-Cadillac Match Play, which gets underway today at Harding Park in S.F., will "guarantee golf fans at least three days to watch Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth or any other favorite player in the glittering 64-player field," according to Carl Steward of the OAKLAND TRIBUNE. The new set-up takes a "World Cup-style approach" of pool play instead of the single-elimination format that "often knocked out a lot of the big-name players on the first day." Tournament Exec Dir Tom Clark said, "Everybody has a much better opportunity playing three rounds of golf instead of just one-and-done." Steward noted while the players "didn't have an official vote on it, the change was forwarded to a player advisory council and met with overwhelming positive feedback." Players have complained for years "about having to travel halfway around the world for an event in which they might not even get in a full 18 holes" (OAKLANDTRIBUNE.com, 4/28). PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said that under the old format, it was "hard on sponsors and fans" when a top player "was eliminated early." GOLFCHANNEL.com's Rex Hoggard noted round-robin play "will assure at least three days for every player, but it will likely also cause some confusion among fans who are used to the old format." But Finchem "is confident that will change after this week" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 4/28). GOLF WORLD MONDAY's Geoff Shackelford notes the field "will be divided into 16 groups of four playing round-robin matches." Each group "will be headlined by one of the 16 top-ranked players." The 16 players "who emerge with the best record from their groups advance to the weekend's single-elimination play, with an 18-hole final set for Sunday afternoon." If all goes well, whoever gets there "will be secondary to an overall increase in the event's energy" (GOLF WORLD MONDAY, 4/27 issue). Golfer Graeme McDowell said, "The old format of straight knockout was a bit harsh. This is an interesting format. Even if you lose one, you have something to play for. And even if you win the first two, you have something to play for" (USA TODAY, 4/28).

ROUNDTABLE REACTION
: GOLF.com's weekly roundtable discussed the new Match Play format, and SI's Gary Van Sickle said, "Having less do-or-die matches will take some of the fun urgency out of the event. How many guys with 2-0 records will play guys with 0-2 records on Friday? Boring. All problems are solved, however, by having a couple of big names in the final -- something that rarely happened in the other format." Golf magazine's Joe Passov: "It may be better for casual fans, who will see the stars linger a little longer in the week, but I think of tennis, and all the tanking that goes on in order to jockey for the right spot." SI's Jeff Ritter: "The Match Play's biggest drama will shift from Wednesday, when half the field used to go home, to Friday, the new first-round elimination day. I think the revamped event will still be good, but an improvement? We'll see" (GOLF.com, 4/26). ESPN's Matt Barrie in a roundtable discussion said, "The round-robin matches make things fun and competitive immediately, and give the fans an extra day to watch the golf and see all of the players. It adds a fun wrinkle to it all." ESPN's Jonathan Coachman said, "I actually love the new format, but I don't know if the players will love it. To see Jordan Spieth or Rory McIlroy play seven matches is fantastic. But that's a lot to ask." ESPN.com's Michael Collins: "I can't wait to see how many guys drop out next year because they realize they're playing seven competitive rounds of golf in five days." ESPN.com's Bob Harig: "I like it better than the previous format which sent too many players home too early" (ESPN.com, 4/25).

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