Golfing News & Blog Articles
Which Golf Major Has the Best Playoff Format?
Golf majors come and go too fast. Seventy-two holes never feel like enough.
If you’re hoping for extra holes, it helps to know how each major handles a playoff because not all formats are the same. Which one delivers the most drama? Which one feels the fairest? Let’s break them all down so you can decide for yourself.
The Masters
Format: Sudden-death stroke play
Playoff Holes: Alternates between hole 18 and hole 10
In case you missed it, the 2025 Masters had a playoff featuring Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy. The sudden-death playoff begins immediately after play as golfers start on the 18th hole and then move to the 10th. They repeat this order until someone wins a hole.
PGA Championship
Format: 3-hole aggregate stroke play, then sudden death if needed
Playoff holes: Depends on the golf course
The PGA Championship opts for a 3-hole aggregate playoff. Whoever has the lowest combined score wins. They go to sudden death if there’s still a tie after three holes. At Quail Hollow in 2025, the holes used will be 16, 17, and 18.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up(s) | Venue | Playoff Format & Holes Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Justin Thomas | Will Zalatoris | Southern Hills CC | 3-hole aggregate: Holes 13, 17, 18 |
| 2011 | Keegan Bradley | Jason Dufner | Atlanta Athletic Club | 3-hole aggregate: Holes 16, 17, 18 |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | Bob May | Valhalla Golf Club | 3-hole aggregate: Holes 16, 17, 18 |
U.S. Open
Format: 2-hole aggregate stroke play, then sudden death if needed
Playoff holes: Depends on the golf course
The U.S. Open used to have an 18-hole playoff on the Monday following the tournament. That’s how we got the Tiger vs. Rocco showdown in 2008.
Now it’s been trimmed down to a 2-hole aggregate playoff, followed by sudden death if players are still tied. It’s more efficient for TV and scheduling, but since it was changed in 2018, there hasn’t been a U.S. Open playoff. Maybe we will get one this year to test this format out.
Photo by Jensen Larson.The Open Championship
Format: 4-hole aggregate stroke play, then sudden death
Playoff holes: Depends on the golf course
If there’s a tie at The Open Championship, players head into a 4-hole playoff across different holes. The total score across those four holes determines the Champion Golfer of the Year. If they’re still tied after that, they enter sudden death.
Here is a look at the last few playoffs and the selected holes.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up(s) | Venue | Playoff Holes Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Zach Johnson | Marc Leishman, Louis Oosthuizen | St Andrews | Holes 1, 2, 17, 18 |
| 2009 | Stewart Cink | Tom Watson | Turnberry | Holes 5, 6, 17, 18 |
| 2002 | Ernie Els | Thomas Levet, Steve Elkington, Stuart Appleby | Muirfield | Holes 1, 2, 17, 18 |
So… which one’s the best?
Everyone’s entitled to their opinion on the best major playoff format.
I’ll never forget the 18-hole U.S. Open duel between Mediate and Woods. Now that the U.S. Open playoff format has changed, I can’t say I’m thrilled about it.
The Open Championship isn’t my favorite major, but its playoff setup is the best test of skill to determine a true winner.
Honestly, I’m just happy anytime we get extra holes and the majors get to keep going.
What do you think? Which one is the best?
The post Which Golf Major Has the Best Playoff Format? appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
