Page type: Result notation (illustrative worked fixture)
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When a halved result is final
A final tie may be recorded as a halved match only when the Terms of the Competition say the match may end tied. If they do not, Rule 3.2a(4) extends the match one hole at a time until there is a winner.
Illustrative final scorecard
Every row below is invented instructional data: Alex and Ben tie each hole with the same numeric gross score. It is not historical data and does not set a universal betting or settlement rule.
Keep all square distinct
All square is also a live match status before the scheduled final hole. It is not, by itself, proof that the final result is halved.
Table
| Hole | Alex gross | Ben gross | Hole result | Cumulative match lead after hole | Holes remaining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 17 |
| 2 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 16 |
| 3 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 15 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 14 |
| 5 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 13 |
| 6 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 12 |
| 7 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 11 |
| 8 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 10 |
| 9 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 9 |
| 10 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 8 |
| 11 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 7 |
| 12 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 6 |
| 13 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 5 |
| 14 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 4 |
| 15 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 3 |
| 16 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 2 |
| 17 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 1 |
| 18 | 4 | 4 | Hole tied | All square | 0 |
Worked example
Illustrative fixture only: the 18-hole card ends all square; it is final only if the competition Terms permit a tie.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 3.2a(1), (3) and (4)
Sources: www.randa.org
Common questions
Is a halved match the same as all square during play?
No. A halved match is a final result only when the Terms of the Competition permit the tie; all square can simply be a live score.
What if the scheduled final hole is all square?
Rule 3.2a(4) extends the match one hole at a time until there is a winner unless the Terms of the Competition say the tie may stand.
Do equal gross scores make a hole tied?
Yes in this simplified gross-score illustration, because both players complete that hole in the same number of strokes.
Does halved mean both players have the same total strokes?
No. Match play records holes won, lost or tied. A final tie is about the match score, not necessarily a round total.
Is the table historical?
No. Alex and Ben are fictional and the scorecard is invented only to demonstrate the final all-square state.
Can local competition terms differ?
Yes. A human reviewer must confirm the Committee's Terms of the Competition before describing a tie as final.