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On Golf: Tournament’s New Format Begets Unexpected Ending

SAN FRANCISCO — On a raw Sunday morning at TPC Harding Park, a voice cut through the marine layer like a foghorn after Rory McIlroy dispatched his opponent, Paul Casey. It was their first hole of the day and the 22nd of their suspended quarterfinal.

“Better than the fight, guys,” shouted a fan, one of a few dozen bundled up like ice fishermen to catch the anticlimactic ending of the most exciting match of an uneven week of golf.

The World Golf Championships match-play tournament ended Sunday with Rory McIlroy dispatching Jim Furyk in the semifinals and then handing Gary Woodland a 4 and 2 defeat in the final to become the first No.