What is the status of a match if a player wins the first three holes but is found to have 15 clubs in their bag on the fourth tee?

In this scenario, the correct status of the match is that the maximum adjustment of two holes applies. According to the rules of match play in golf, if a player has more than the allowed number of clubs (which is 14), they receive a penalty but do not automatically forfeit their match or get disqualified. Instead, the player incurs a penalty of one hole for carrying the excessive club, and this penalty can be adjusted to a maximum of two holes in a match play format.

Since the player won the first three holes, the opponent would adjust the score by two holes for the infraction. Thus, if the player started off 3-up, after applying the penalty, their status in the match would change to 1-up. This reflects the impact of the penalty without completely removing them from the competition. The adjustments allow the match to continue, ensuring that the game remains competitive despite the rules violation.