AUGUSTA, Ga. — Every year, the wait for the Masters feels like an eternity, but only those four days of competition go by faster than you can say, “Go ahead and drive.” If you’re hoping all the exciting stuff doesn’t end with 72 holes, we don’t blame you. Maybe, if we’re lucky, there will be a playoff game with more drama.
Major championship playoffs come in all shapes and sizes. In fact, none of the four major events in men’s golf actually use the same playoff format. The U.S. Open uses a two-hole assembly system, the PGA Championship uses three holes, and the Open Championship uses four holes.
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But what is the format of the playoffs at Augusta National? This is the standard sudden-death format used on the PGA Tour, where playoff participants continue to play additional holes until a winner is determined. This year, playoff participants will return to the 18th hole. If there is still a tie, play the 10th hole, then play the 18th hole again. Continue playing numbers 10 and 18 alternately until a champion is determined.
Masters playoff history
Like other major tournaments, the Masters was traditionally concluded by returning the next day to play an 18-hole match after 72 holes. In fact, Augusta National was the first to use a 36-hole playoff format, introduced in 1935 when Gene Sarazen defeated Craig Wood to win the championship. But after that, it was decided after 18 holes, and that happened five times. Interestingly, all five of the overtime playoff winners are legends of the game: Byron Nelson in 1942, Sam Snead in 1954, Arnold Palmer in 1962, Jack Nicklaus in 1966, and Billy Casper in 1970.
However, in 1976, Masters co-founder Clifford Roberts announced that the tournament would instead use sudden-death playoffs to determine the champion. The new format was first implemented in 1979, when Fuzzy Zoller made a birdie on the second hole of a playoff to defeat Ed Sneed and Tom Watson.
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Since then, there have been 11 more playoffs, but none lasted more than two extra holes. The last time was a year ago, when Rory McIlroy defeated Justin Rose to win his long-awaited first major championship. (In fact, Rose has been an unlucky runner-up in the last two Masters playoffs, losing to Sergio Garcia in 2017).
If there’s any controversy surrounding the Masters playoffs, it’s the fact that a small number of them were held under dark skies as the sun set. Masters officials typically set tee times for Sunday’s final round slightly earlier than Saturday’s third round in case a playoff is needed. But you may remember Nick Faldo’s win over Scott Hock in 1989, Tiger Woods’ win over Chris DiMarco in 2005, and Adam Scott’s win over Angel Cabrera in 2013. None of these would have lasted another hole past sunset.
Below is a list of all playoffs in Masters history. Will it be added to this list in 2025? Stay tuned!
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masters playoffs
1935: Gene Sarazen (144) defeated Craig Wood (149)
1942: Byron Nelson (69) defeated Ben Hogan (70)
1954: Sam Snead (70) defeated Ben Hogan (71)
1962: Arnold Palmer (68) defeated Gary Player (71) and Dow Finsterwald (77)
1966: Jack Nicklaus (70) defeated Tommy Jacobs (72) and Gay Brewer (78)
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Jack Nicklaus won the 1966 Masters by throwing his golf ball down the 18th fairway after holed out in a playoff against Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer.
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1970: Billy Casper (69) defeated Gene Littler (74)
1979: Fuzzy Zoller (4-3) birdied the second playoff hole (No. 11) to beat Ed Snead (4-4) and Tom Watson (4-4).
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Fuzzy Zoller was the last Masters rookie to earn a green jacket in the 1979 playoff victory.
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1982: Craig Stadler (4) beat Dan Paul (5) with a par on the first hole of the playoff (No. 10)
1987: Larry Mize (4-3) birdied the second playoff hole (No. 11) to beat Seve Ballesteros (5) and Greg Norman (4-4).
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Larry Mize celebrates with a hole-out birdie chip after defeating Greg Norman in a playoff at the 1987 Masters.
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1989: Nick Faldo (5-3) made a birdie on the second playoff hole (No. 11) to beat Scott Hock (5-4).
1990: On the second playoff hole (No. 11), Nick Faldo (4-4) beat Raymond Floyd (4-5) with a par.
2003: Mike Weir (5th) beat Len Mathias (6th) with a bogey on the first playoff hole (No. 10).
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2005: Tiger Woods (3rd place) made a birdie on the first playoff hole (18th) and defeated Chris DiMarco (4th place).
2009: Angel Cabrera (4-4) defeated Kenny Perry (4-5) and Chad Campbell (5) with a par on the second playoff hole (No. 10).
2012: On the second playoff hole (No. 10), Bubba Watson (4-4) beat Louis Oosthuizen (4-5) with a par.
2013: Adam Scott (4-3) birdied the second playoff hole (No. 10) to beat Angel Cabrera (4-4).
2017: Sergio Garcia (3rd place) birdied the first playoff hole (No. 18) to beat Justin Rose (5th place).
2025: Rory McIlroy (3rd) birdied the first playoff hole (No. 18) to beat Justin Rose (4th).
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