You’ve likely heard the term medalist mentioned during broadcasts of major amateur golf tournaments or qualifiers for the U.S. Open. While it sounds prestigious, its specific meaning can be a bit of a mystery. This article is here to clear that up. We'll break down exactly what a medalist is in golf, explain the formats of play that create this title, and discuss why it's a significant accomplishment for any player.
In the simplest terms, the medalist is the player with the lowest score during the stroke-play portion of a tournament that also features a match-play final. Think of it as a qualifying stage to get into the main event. Before the one-on-one battles of match play can begin, the tournament needs a way to filter down a large field of competitors and organized them into a seeded bracket. This is done through one or more rounds of classic stroke play.
The player who navigates these qualifying rounds with the fewest strokes is honored as the medalist. It’s an independent award within the tournament that recognizes the best performer during that initial phase. Even if this player doesn't go on to win the overall championship, they will forever be recognized as the medalist for that event, a significant badge of honor.
To really get what being a medalist is all about, you need to understand the two different styles of golf that are often combined in these championships. The player who becomes the medalist has to excel at the first format to earn their spot and title.
Stroke play is the most common form of golf. It’s probably how you and your friends play on the weekend. The rules are straightforward:
In a tournament like the U.S. Amateur, hundreds of players will compete in a 36-hole stroke play qualifier. A high score on a single hole can be devastating because it adds directly to your total. The mindset here is one of patience and risk management. As a coach, I'd advise a player to focus on making pars, avoiding big numbers (double bogeys or worse), and simply playing against the golf course. The objective is to record the best score possible, because every single shot counts towards that final number.
Once the stroke-play rounds are complete, the tournament changes entirely. A predetermined number of players with the lowest scores - often the top 64 - advance to the match-play portion. They are then placed into a bracket, just like in a tennis tournament or the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament.
Here’s how match play differs:
The medalist, having shot the lowest score in stroke play, earns the #1 seed in the bracket. This means they will play the player who just barely qualified - the #64 seed - in the first round.
Earning medalist honors is a two-day marathon of precision and mental toughness. There are no shortcuts, it requires exceptional play from start to finish. Here’s how it usually unfolds.
The entire field tees off for usually 36 holes of stroke play, often spread across one or two days and sometimes two different golf courses. From the very first shot, every player's score is being tracked. The pressure is immense, as a single poor round can eliminate a player from contention before the "real" tournament even begins.
The mindset for these qualifying rounds is different than a regular tournament. Players aren't necessarily trying to "win" on day one, but rather to post a solid number that will safely get them into the match play bracket. This means playing conservatively, aiming for the middle of greens, and avoiding the major mistakes that lead to a high score on a hole. A string of pars is far more valuable than a round with five birdies and five bogeys.
After all players have completed the 36 holes, the scores are finalized. The player who stands alone at the top of the leaderboard with the lowest total score is officially named the medalist. For example, if the lowest score posted is a a two-round total of 138 (6-under-par), the player who shot that score is the medalist.
What happens if two or more players are tied for the lowest score? In that case, they are named "co-medalists." They all share the honor equally. While they share the title, there still needs to be a way to determine the #1 seed for the bracket. This is usually handled by a random draw or a scorecard playoff.
There can also be ties for the final spot in the match-play field. For example, if ten players are tied for the 64th and final spot, they will all go into a sudden-death playoff on the course to decide who advances.
Absolutely. While the ultimate goal is to win the entire championship, being the medalist is a highly respected accomplishment. It proves that for the stroke-play portion, you were the top player in a field full of elite competition. It carries with it both prestige and a strategic advantage, but it also comes with a unique kind of pressure.
The clearest benefit of being the medalist is earning the top seed in the match-play bracket. On paper, this provides the "easiest" path through the tournament, as you are pitted against the lowest-ranked qualifier in the first round. The #1 seed will always know their opponent had a tougher time getting in than they did, which can be a small mental edge.
Ironically, this advantage doesn't always play out. There's a well-known phenomenon in these tournaments unofficially called the "medalist's curse." It’s quite common for the medalist to be defeated early in match play, sometimes in the very first round.
Why does this happen? There are a few theories:
This "curse" perfectly illustrates the beauty of a mixed-format tournament. It highlights that the skills required to be the best stroke player are not always the same skills required to be the best match player.
The history of golf is filled with legends who proved their dominance by first earning medalist honors in the most important amateur events. It's often an early sign of a player destined for greatness.
Figures like Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods were all medalists at the U.S. Amateur during their careers before they went on to win the championship multiple times. Being medalist isn't just a footnote, it's a testament to their all-around game and their ability to conquer both stroke play and match play. Its list of victors is a who's-who of golf royalty, reinforcing just how big of an accomplishment it truly is.
Becoming the medalist in a golf tournament means you were the best player during the intense stroke-play qualifying rounds. It’s a certificate of elite performance that earns you the number one seed for the head-to-head match-play competition that decides the ultimate champion.
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