Golf majors come and go too quick. Seventy-two holes by no means really feel like sufficient.
In the event you’re hoping for further holes, it helps to know the way every main handles a playoff as a result of not all codecs are the identical. Which one delivers probably the most drama? Which one feels the fairest? Let’s break all of them down so you may determine for your self.
The Masters
Format: Sudden-death stroke play
Playoff Holes: Alternates between gap 18 and gap 10
In case you missed it, the 2025 Masters had a playoff that includes Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy. The sudden-death playoff begins instantly after play as golfers begin on the 18th gap after which transfer to the tenth. They repeat this order till somebody wins a gap.
PGA Championship
Format: 3-hole mixture stroke play, then sudden dying if wanted
Playoff holes: Relies on the golf course
The PGA Championship opts for a 3-hole mixture playoff. Whoever has the bottom mixed rating wins. They go to sudden dying if there’s nonetheless a tie after three holes. At Quail Hole in 2025, the holes used will likely be 16, 17, and 18.
| Yr | Winner | Runner-Up(s) | Venue | Playoff Format & Holes Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Justin Thomas | Will Zalatoris | Southern Hills CC | 3-hole mixture: Holes 13, 17, 18 |
| 2011 | Keegan Bradley | Jason Dufner | Atlanta Athletic Membership | 3-hole mixture: Holes 16, 17, 18 |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | Bob Could | Valhalla Golf Membership | 3-hole mixture: Holes 16, 17, 18 |
U.S. Open
Format: 2-hole mixture stroke play, then sudden dying if wanted
Playoff holes: Relies on the golf course
The U.S. Open used to have an 18-hole playoff on the Monday following the event. That’s how we received the Tiger vs. Rocco showdown in 2008.
Now it’s been trimmed all the way down to a 2-hole mixture playoff, adopted by sudden dying if gamers are nonetheless tied. It’s extra environment friendly for TV and scheduling, however because it was modified in 2018, there hasn’t been a U.S. Open playoff. Perhaps we are going to get one this 12 months to check this format out.
The Open Championship
Format: 4-hole mixture stroke play, then sudden dying
Playoff holes: Relies on the golf course
If there’s a tie at The Open Championship, gamers head right into a 4-hole playoff throughout totally different holes. The entire rating throughout these 4 holes determines the Champion Golfer of the Yr. In the event that they’re nonetheless tied after that, they enter sudden dying.
Here’s a take a look at the previous few playoffs and the chosen holes.
| Yr | 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 one of the best?
Everybody’s entitled to their opinion on one of the best main playoff format.
I’ll always remember the 18-hole U.S. Open duel between Mediate and Woods. Now that the U.S. Open playoff format has modified, I can’t say I’m thrilled about it.
The Open Championship isn’t my favourite main, however its playoff setup is one of the best take a look at of ability to find out a real winner.
Actually, I’m simply comfortable anytime we get further holes and the majors get to maintain going.
What do you assume? Which one is one of the best?
The publish Which Golf Major Has the Best Playoff Format? appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
