Learn Golf
How Golf Works
New to golf or just want to understand what you're watching? This guide explains the format, rules, and structure of professional golf — from the basics of a round to the major championships.
The Basic Idea
Golf is a game of getting a ball from a tee into a hole in as few shots as possible. An 18-hole golf course presents 18 separate challenges — each hole a different distance, shape, and difficulty. In professional stroke play (the most common format on tour), every single shot counts. The player with the lowest total score across the full event wins.
The golden rule of stroke play:
Count every shot you take. The player with the fewest shots at the end wins. Going under par is good. Going over par is bad.
Each hole has a par — the expected number of shots for an expert golfer. A standard 18-hole course typically has a total par of 70, 71, or 72. Professional golfers routinely shoot below par across a full round.
Par — The Expected Score
Every hole is assigned a par value — the number of shots a scratch (zero handicap) golfer is expected to need. There are three types of holes.
Typically up to around 250 yards. Tee directly to the green. Players aim for a hole-in-one or a tap-in birdie.
The most common type. A drive followed by an approach shot to the green, then a putt. Typically 250–450 yards.
The longest holes — 450 yards and beyond. Three shots to reach the green is expected, though big hitters can reach in two (going for eagle).
A typical 18-hole course might have four par 3s, ten par 4s, and four par 5s, giving a total par of 72.
Formats of Play
Professional golf uses several different formats depending on the event. Understanding which format is being played changes how you watch the competition.
Stroke Play
The standard format for almost all professional tour events, including the four major championships. Every shot taken by each player is counted across the entire tournament. After 72 holes (four rounds), the player with the lowest total wins.
Used in: The Masters, US Open, The Open Championship, PGA Championship, and the vast majority of PGA Tour and DP World Tour events.
Match Play
Instead of counting total shots, players compete hole by hole. Win a hole and you go "1 up". Halve a hole (same score) and neither player moves. The player who wins the most holes wins the match. A match can end before the 18th hole — if one player leads by more holes than remain, the match is over.
Used in: Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, Presidents Cup, WGC-Dell Match Play.
Foursomes (Alternate Shot)
A team format where two players share one ball. They take alternate shots throughout the hole — one player tees off on odd holes, the other on even holes. Used in the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and Presidents Cup team sessions.
Key challenge: You must play the ball from wherever your partner left it — good or bad.
Fourballs (Best Ball)
Another team format where two players each play their own ball throughout. The better (lower) score from the pair counts for that hole. This format tends to produce more aggressive, attacking golf — if your partner is in trouble, you can take risks.
Used in: Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, Presidents Cup team sessions.
Stableford
A points-based system where players earn points relative to par on each hole. An eagle earns more points than a birdie; a bogey earns fewer. The highest points total wins. Used in some professional events and widely in amateur golf.
Advantage: Bad holes hurt less — you simply score zero points rather than ruining a total.
A Professional Tournament
Most professional stroke play events follow the same structure. Understanding this rhythm makes it much easier to follow a tournament on TV across the week.
The full field tees off. Often 150+ players. Players are grouped in threes and tee off in waves across the day.
The cut is applied at the end of round 2. The top 70 players (plus ties) advance to the weekend. The rest go home.
The field is much smaller. Leaders tee off last (in the "final groups"). The leaderboard begins to take shape.
The leaders go out last. The tournament is decided. If players tie on the same score, a playoff may follow — sudden death or a set number of holes.
The Cut
After 36 holes (rounds 1 and 2), a cut reduces the field. In most PGA Tour and DP World Tour events, the top 65 or 70 players plus ties make the cut and play the weekend. Anyone outside the cut does not play rounds 3 and 4 — and, in most events, does not earn prize money. The cut line is simply the score held by the player in the last qualifying position.
Scoring Terms at a Glance
Golf uses a set of named terms for scores on each hole relative to par. See the full Scoring Guide for a complete breakdown.
Full scoring guide including albatross, condor, and leaderboard reading →
The Professional Tours
Professional golf is organised across several tours worldwide. The main tours you will see covered on UK television are:
PGA Tour
The premier men's tour, predominantly based in the United States but with events worldwide. Home to the world's best players. Season runs from autumn through to summer.
DP World Tour (formerly European Tour)
The leading tour in Europe and beyond. Many events take place in the UK, continental Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Closely aligned with the PGA Tour — the best DP World Tour players compete on both circuits.
LIV Golf
A breakaway league launched in 2022, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Plays a 54-hole (three round) team and individual format with no cut. Some of the world's highest-ranked players have moved to LIV.
Korn Ferry Tour
The developmental tour that feeds into the PGA Tour. Players who finish in the top 30 on the Korn Ferry Tour at season's end earn their PGA Tour card.
The Major Championships
The four major championships are the most prestigious events in professional golf. Winning a major is the pinnacle of any professional golfer's career.
World Rankings
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) ranks professional golfers based on their tournament results, weighted by the strength of the field. Points are earned for high finishes and decay over time if a player stops performing.
The world number one ranking is hotly contested. Scottie Scheffler of the USA held the top ranking for an extended period through 2024–25. Rankings directly affect who qualifies for the major championships and team competitions.