All Square in Matchplay —
What Happens Next?
All square (A/S) means the match is level — neither player is ahead. Here's what it means during a match, what happens when you finish all square after 18 holes, and how it differs from a halved match.
Short Answer
"All square" means both players have won the same number of holes and the match is tied. If all square after 18 holes, play continues hole-by-hole (the "19th hole") until someone wins one. The match cannot end all square unless the format specifically allows a halved result.
All square during the round
All square is a running description of the match state. It means both players have won the same number of holes since the first tee. The match can swing in and out of all square repeatedly as holes are won and halved.
While all square, the match has no leader. The next hole won by either player will move them to "1 up" and their opponent to "1 down."
All square after 18 holes — what happens?
In a standard matchplay knockout, the match cannot end all square — there must be a winner. If the match is level after 18 holes, play continues to extra holes.
The 19th hole (and beyond)
Extra holes in matchplay are played one at a time. The players go to hole 1 (or wherever the format dictates) and play it out. If that hole is halved, they play hole 2, then hole 3, until someone wins a hole — that player wins the match. The result is recorded as "19th hole" or "20th hole," etc.
Honours on extra holes
On the 19th hole (extra hole), the same rules apply as during the main round. The player who won hole 18 (or the toss if 18 was halved) has the honour. This continues for each subsequent extra hole.
When a match can be halved
In team formats — the Ryder Cup, Walker Cup, or club team matchplay — a match can be formally halved if it finishes all square after the agreed holes. Both players get half a point. This is only possible if the competition format explicitly permits halved matches; in most knockout formats, extra holes are mandatory.
All square vs halved vs dormie
| Term | When used | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| All square (A/S) | During a match | Match is level — neither player leads |
| Halved | Final result | Match ended level — half point each (team formats) |
| Dormie | During a match | Leader cannot lose — up by same as holes remaining |
Common questions
How do you say "all square" when reporting a matchplay result?
If a match finishes all square in a format that permits it, the result is recorded as "halved" or "A/S." For a match going to extra holes, the result is reported as "1 up on the 19th" (or 20th, etc.) — referring to which hole the winning player took the match on.
Can a club knockout match end all square?
Generally no — knockout formats require a winner. If the match is all square after 18 holes, extra holes are played until someone wins one. However, always check your club's local rules for the competition; some society or team events may allow a halved result to count as half a point for each team.
What is the difference between "all square" and "even"?
They mean the same thing in matchplay. "All square" is the standard matchplay term; "even" is used informally. Both mean neither player is ahead. The official scorecard and result notation uses "A/S" or "all square."
In the Ryder Cup, what happens when a match is all square after 18?
In the Ryder Cup, a match that finishes all square after 18 holes is officially halved. Each team receives half a point. This is why Ryder Cup totals sometimes contain half points — for example, Europe 14½ points to USA 13½. Extra holes are not played in the Ryder Cup.
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