Bracket Challenge

The Bracket Challenge in golf, similar to formats used in other sports, is typically a single-elimination team match play tournament stage following stroke play qualifying rounds. This format was notably adopted by NCAA Division I men's golf championships starting in 2019. After initial stroke play rounds (usually 54 holes), the top eight teams are seeded into a bracket for match play quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals to determine the overall team champion. Match play competitions involve head-to-head contests where the team that wins the most holes advances. This hybrid format combines cumulative stroke play scoring for qualification with bracket-style match play to yield an exciting, clear-cut championship outcome.