Arizona match-play final cut to 18 holes in future

The Arizona-based "World" Match Play Championship's final is to be cut from 36 holes to one round, starting next year.
US PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said the policy board approved the change last week, although it remains subject to TV approval. NBC Sports televises the weekend of the Match Play Championship.
Under the change, the quarter-final matches will be played on the Saturday, with 18-hole semi-finals on the Sunday morning, followed by the championship match on Sunday afternoon.
Previously, the championship match was 36 holes.
Only twice in 12 years of the tournament has the player leading the final after 18 holes failed to win -- Davis Love III in 2004 against Tiger Woods, and Andrew Magee in 1999 against Jeff Maggert. Two other championship matches were tied after 18 holes.
The thinking behind the move is that US TV audiences get bored with 36 holes of match-play between two players. With the semi-finals and the final now being condensed into the Sunday programme, NBC will be able to hold on to their viewers all day.