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UGC Season 3 heads to the Earth course for a high-stakes Elite Matchplay showdown

Round 2 of Season 3 of the Ultimate Golf Challenge promises a dramatic shift in both stage and strategy as the action moves to the championship-renowned Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates on February 26, home of the DP World Tour Championship.

After a thrilling opening round of Stableford action at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, the league now flips to the far more tactical and player-focused Elite Matchplay format, a twist that could redefine the leaderboard in a single day.

Widely regarded as one of the region’s most demanding layouts, the Earth Course will test nerve, precision and course management of all participants, but it is the format change that adds the most intrigue.

Match play, unlike traditional stroke play, is a hole-by-hole battle where every hole becomes its own contest. Win a hole, gain the edge; halve it, and the tension carries forward. The objective is simple yet ruthless: win more holes than your opponent.

For the Ultimate Golf Challenge, the stakes are amplified. Five players representing each of the ten teams will compete in nine concurrent matchplay rounds, earning five points for a win and two for a half.

Brandon De Souza, Tournament Director, UGC, underlined how pivotal Round 2 could be and how it can impact the overall standings.

“While there are only five players playing, there are 45 points an individual player can gain for his team and multiple times if they all win their games which is close to 225 points. This can be a massive jump for teams languishing at the lower end of the table,” said De Souza.

“It’s a nice spin, it's very different. Either way, you’re going to be a hero or villain for your team. But the way the leaderboard is structured, this is really a moving day, a potentially game-changing day. It's super exciting.”

Defending champions Noble Legacy Masters, who lead after Round 1, are approaching the new format with careful preparation and co-owner Achal Ghai emphasised the importance of discipline and planning.

“In tough windy conditions at Saadiyat it was important to play conservative golf and im for moderate individual scores. The team followed the scrip," he said. "There are no short cuts. Prepping through golf clinics and discussions on course management also goes a long way."

Looking ahead to the Earth Course challenge, Ghai added: “We’ve had detailed deliberations within the team on strategy, course conditions format and the mental strength required for each player to play nine match plays based on that we have carefully selected our five players.”

Meanwhile, last season’s runners-up, The A Team, remain firmly in contention after a strong start. Mentor Badru Hilal reflected on their momentum:

“It was a very positive start for us and the team is in high spirits," said Hilal. "Finishing second at Saadiyat gave us confidence that our preparation and team chemistry are strong. The key takeaway was consistency across the squad, and we now feel even more motivated and determined to build on that momentum heading to Round 2.

Strategy and selection are crucial

With the format shift, Hilal believes strategy and selection are decisive. “The shift to matchplay makes team selection absolutely key, and we believe we have made the right choices in selecting the five players to represent the squad. Our approach is more strategic and focused on head-to-head performance rather than overall scoring.”

As the UGC enters what many are calling a potential “moving day,” the combination of elite matchplay, a championship course and high-stakes team dynamics ensures one thing, every hole, every match and every point on the Earth Course could reshape the destiny of Season 3.