Mate given free movement in golf format (5,4)
I believe the answer is:
match play
'golf format' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'mate given free movement' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'mate' could be 'match' (synonyms) and 'match' is present in the answer.
'movement' could be 'play' (play is a kind of movement) and 'play' is located in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for match play that I've seen before include "Golf competition scored by counting holes rather than strokes" , "scoring system" , "Form of golf" .)