If you're a fan of the nail-biting finishes at the Masters or the U.S. Open, you know that some golf tournaments come down to dramatic overtime showdowns. One such high-pressure showdown is the playoff, a thrilling finale that can crown a champion in unforgettable fashion. In this blog, we'll explore how golf playoffs work in PGA Tour stroke play events (like the U.S. Open), including when they happen, the formats they use, and some unique twists. By the end, you'll understand what goes into these tense tie-breakers.
Quick Refresher: How Do Stroke Play Tournaments Work?
Before diving into playoffs, let's quickly recap how a standard stroke play golf tournament operates. In stroke play, every player competes over multiple rounds (usually four rounds of 18 holes, for a total of 72 holes in professional events. Each stroke a player takes is counted, and the player with the lowest total number of strokes at the end of the final round is the winner. Major tournaments and PGA Tour events typically span four days (Thursday through Sunday), with players aiming to finish with the best cumulative score relative to par. If one player finishes with the outright lowest score, they win the tournament outright.
However, golf doesn’t always give us a clear winner in regulation play. With large fields and four rounds of golf, it's not uncommon for two or more players to end up tied for first place after 72 holes. When that happens, and the top of the leaderboard is deadlocked, the tournament isn't over yet, it’s time for a playoff to determine the champion.
When Do Playoffs Happen?
A playoff in golf is essentially extra holes played to break a tie for the lead. Playoffs occur only when players are tied for first place at the end of the final round of a stroke play event. In other words, if the leaders are tied after the scheduled 72 holes, they must keep playing until one golfer emerges victorious.
Playoffs are typically conducted immediately after the final round on the same day, so fans and players get a resolution without delay. For example, in past eras the U.S. Open would hold an 18-hole playoff the next day if players were tied, but this practice has been phased out in favor of shorter same-day playoffs. In everyday amateur or club play, ties might simply remain ties or be broken by other means like a scorecard count-back, but in professional golf, a tie for first triggers a playoff to declare an outright champion.
How Do PGA Tour Playoffs Work?
When a playoff is needed, how does it actually work? There are two main formats a golf playoff can take: sudden death or an aggregate score playoff. The exact method depends on the tournament’s rules, but the PGA Tour and most events generally use the sudden-death format.
Sudden Death Playoffs:
This is the most common playoff format in pro golf. All players tied for the lead tee off on an extra hole; if one player shoots a lower score on that hole than all the others, they win the tournament on the spot. If they remain tied, they move on to another hole, and continue hole-by-hole until someone beats the others with a better score on a single hole. Sudden death is used in all regular PGA Tour tournaments and many majors. This format produces immediate drama, as any hole could be the last. Many playoffs end on the first extra hole, but others can turn into marathons; the longest sudden-death playoff on record in professional golf lasted 14 extra holes before a winner was decided!
Aggregate Playoffs:
Some tournaments use a predetermined mini-match of a few holes to decide the winner. In an aggregate playoff, the tied players play a set number of extra holes, often 3 or 4, and their scores on those holes are added up. The player with the lowest total score for the playoff holes wins the championship. If they’re still tied after that series, then it usually goes to sudden death. The idea behind an aggregate playoff is to allow a slightly larger sample of holes to determine the winner. Aggregate playoffs are less common on the week-to-week PGA Tour, but they are used in several of golf’s biggest events (more on that below.)
In both formats, all tied competitors compete simultaneously. For example, if three players are tied for first, all three will play the playoff holes together. In sudden death, if one player is eliminated, the remaining players continue until one prevails. In an aggregate, all players complete the set of holes and compare totals. Either way, the playoff continues until the tie is broken and a champion is determined.
What Is the U.S. Open Playoff Format?
The U.S. Open is a great example of how playoff formats can vary in major tournaments. Currently, the U.S. Open uses a two-hole aggregate playoff if players are tied at the end of 72 holes. This means each tied golfer plays two extra holes, and the scores on those two holes are combined. The golfer with the lowest total score for those two holes wins the U.S. Open. If there’s still a tie after two holes, then the competition goes to sudden death hole-by-hole until someone wins. The U.S. Open’s two-hole aggregate is the shortest aggregate playoff among the majors, making it a unique format at the elite level of golf.
To put it in context, each of the four major championships has its own playoff style:
Masters Tournament: Sudden death playoff (immediate win if you beat the others on any extra hole).
U.S. Open: Two-hole aggregate playoff, then sudden death if still tied.
PGA Championship: Three-hole aggregate playoff, then sudden death if needed.
The Open Championship (British Open): Four-hole aggregate playoff, then sudden death if needed.
The U.S. Open used to be even more demanding in the past, for many years, it employed an 18-hole playoff format. If players were tied after 72 holes, they had to come back the next day and play a full additional round to decide the winner. (And if that 18-hole playoff was tied, it would go to sudden death!) The last time this grueling format was used was in 2008, when Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate famously dueled at Torrey Pines. They remained tied after the scheduled 18 extra holes, so it went to sudden death, and Woods clinched the victory on the 19th playoff hole. Since 2018, however, the U.S. Open has adopted the shorter two-hole aggregate setup to ensure a winner is determined on Sunday evening without the need for a next-day round.
It’s worth noting that tournament officials typically pre-select which holes will be used for the playoff. For example, in the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, the plan was to use the 17th and 18th holes for the two-hole aggregate shootout (though in the end, a playoff wasn’t required that year). This ensures that players know in advance where the showdown will happen, and those holes are usually chosen to provide a fair and exciting finish (often ending on the 18th green where the atmosphere is electric).
Who Wins a Golf Playoff?
The winner of a golf playoff is, quite simply, the golfer who outperforms the others during the playoff holes. In a sudden-death playoff, the champion is the player who wins a hole outright by shooting a lower score than all opponents on that hole. In an aggregate playoff, the champion is the player with the lowest total score after the set of playoff holes is completed. If a tie still persists, the playoff usually transitions into sudden death to finally separate them.
In any case, once the playoff is concluded, the victor is awarded the tournament win, and often it’s a moment of high drama and relief. These tie-breakers can be pressure cookers: golfers must maintain their skill and composure under the most intense spotlight, knowing that one brilliant birdie or one slip-up can make the difference between winning and second place.
Now that you know how golf playoffs work, you can appreciate that winning one isn’t just about luck, it’s a test of skill, strategy, and nerves. Watching a playoff unfold is thrilling for fans, but being in one is another challenge entirely. That’s where preparation and practice come in. Even if you’re not playing for a major championship, improving your game and handling pressure situations will help you come out on top in your own weekend matches or club tournaments.
So, why wait? With TeachMe.To, the first lesson is on us. Get your first lesson for free when you sign up for a subscription and start sharpening your skills. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be the golfer sinking a putt to win a playoff. Whether you’re aiming to win your club championship or just want to lower your handicap, professional coaching can make a difference. Book a lesson, hit the course, and you’ll be better prepared when that clutch moment arrives. Enjoy the journey, and see you on the 18th green!
