There aren’t many finishes in golf that are as tense or memorable as a Masters playoff. The leaderboard is tied after 72 holes, and then every swing means something because the Green Jacket is on the line. Augusta National doesn’t leave the outcome of its tournaments to chance; this masters playoff format tests players’ accuracy, nerves, and course knowledge under sudden-death pressure.
To determine a champion, officials use a specific rotation of holes and strict Masters playoff rules to ensure a winner is crowned under the highest pressure. Here is exactly how the sudden-death system works, which holes are played, and what happens if the sun goes down.
What is the Masters Playoff Format? (Sudden Death)
Each major has its own playoff format. The Masters Tournament uses sudden death. In this masters playoff format, if two or more players are tied after 72 holes of regular play at Augusta National Golf Club, they will play in a playoff until one player scores lower. The playoff would start on the par-4 18th hole. If there is still no winner, it would move to the par-4 10th hole, and so on. This will happen over and over again until someone wins.
Note: The PGA Championship uses a 3-hole aggregate, the Open Championship uses a 4-hole aggregate, and the U.S. Open uses a 2-hole aggregate before going to sudden death.
How the Masters Playoff Works: A Hole-by-Hole Breakdown
If the Masters ends in a tie after 72 holes, a sudden-death playoff on Augusta’s hardest holes will determine who gets the Green Jacket. This playoff tests both skill and nerve. The sequence that follows in the masters playoff format:
Hole 18 (Holly)
The famous 18th hole is where the playoffs start. This tough par 4 hole is 465 yards for a precise tee shot and has a sharp dogleg right, with trees and bunkers ready to punish any shots that go off course. It’s a hole that rewards being calm and in control under pressure.
Hole 10 (Camellia)
Players go to the 10th if the tie stays. At 495 yards, this par 4 has been one of Augusta National’s hardest holes in the past. It requires a precise tee shot to get to the downhill fairway, and hard to get to the severely sloped green.
Note: It is often cited that the 11th hole at the Masters is the hardest, but the 10th hole is always near the top.
Longer Play
If they are still tied after the 10th, they go back to the 18th and then back to the 10th, repeating this alternating pattern until someone wins and gets the Green Jacket.
Official Playoff Procedures at Augusta National
The Masters playoff format is a sudden-death system initiated immediately following the conclusion of the 72-hole tournament if players are tied for the lead.
Determining the Order of Play
- Initial Hole: The playoffs start right away on the 18th hole (Holly).
- Next Holes: If the players are still tied after the 18th hole, they go to the 10th hole (Camellia).
- Rotation: The 18th and 10th holes take turns playing in the playoffs (18, 10, 18, 10…) until someone wins.
- Sudden Death: The tournament is won by the first player to win a hole outright, which means they have a lower score than their opponent(s) on that hole.
- Order of Play on Tee: The order of play for the first playoff hole is usually decided by a drawing of numbers(traditionally numbers from a hat or pouch) or by the order in which players finished regular play. This is usually announced on the 18th tee in front of cameras.
Caddie and Grouping Rules
- Caddies: All caddies at Augusta National must wear the traditional white jumpsuits, green hats, and white tennis shoes, no matter if it’s the main tournament or a playoff.
- Grouping: The players who are tied for the lead after 72 holes usually make up the playoff. Most of the time, it’s a one-on-one match, but if there is a tie with more than two players, it can be a three-or-more-player match like in 2009 with Angel Cabrera, Kenny Perry, and Chad Campbell.
- No Past Two Holes: The playoff format lets players switch between the 10th and 18th holes, but in the history of the sudden-death format (since 1976), no playoff has ever gone past two extra holes (the 18th and 10th).
A History of Masters Playoff Format Changes
The Masters hasn’t always broken ties in the same way. Over the years, the playoff format has changed to make the endings of golf’s biggest events clearer, faster, and more exciting.
Why Sudden Death Was Chosen (1976)
The Masters changed its playoff format to sudden death in 1976, replacing the full 18-hole playoff that had been used before. But it was first used in practice in 1979, when Fuzzy Zoeller won in a sudden death playoff. The switch to sudden death was made to speed up the outcome, add more drama, and meet the growing demands of television, making sure the champion was chosen under immediate pressure.
The 2004 Change in Hole Sequence
The current playoff format, which starts on the 18th hole, goes to the 10th hole, and switches back and forth as needed, was first used in 2005 (Tiger Woods vs. Chris DiMarco). This change made the game more interesting and challenging by requiring players to beat two of the course’s toughest par 4s to win the Green Jacket.
All Occasions a Winner was Decided by a Playoff
Since the first tournament in 1935, the Green Jacket has been decided by a playoff on 18 different occasions. From Gene Sarazen’s 36-hole marathon to Rory McIlroy’s 2025 sudden-death victory, these matches represent the ultimate test of nerves at Augusta.
Sudden-Death Playoff Results (1979–Present)
There have been 12 sudden death playoffs at The Masters:
- 2025: Rory McIlroy defeated Justin Rose
- 2017: Sergio Garcia defeated Justin Rose
- 2013: Adam Scott defeated Angel Cabrera
- 2012: Bubba Watson defeated Louis Oosthuizen
- 2009: Angel Cabrera defeated Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell
- 2005: Tiger Woods defeated Chris DiMarco
- 2003: Mike Weir defeated Len Mattiace
- 1990: Nick Faldo defeated Raymond Floyd
- 1989: Nick Faldo defeated Scott Hoch
- 1987: Larry Mize defeated Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman
- 1982: Craig Stadler defeated Dan Pohl
- 1979: Fuzzy Zoeller defeated Ed Sneed and Tom Watson
The Marathon Era: 18-Hole and 36-Hole Playoff History
The Masters used to have an 18-hole playoff, and the 6 winners were:
- 1970: Billy Casper defeated Gene Littler
- 1966: Jack Nicklaus defeated Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer
- 1962: Arnold Palmer defeated Gary Player and Dow Finsterwald
- 1954: Sam Snead defeated Ben Hogan
- 1942: Byron Nelson defeated Ben Hogan
- 1935: Gene Sarazen defeated Craig Wood
Masters Playoffs by the Numbers
The Masters Tournament has a long history of exciting, high-stakes playoff finishes, and this format remain in place for April 2025. The tournament has crowned many champions in extra holes since it switched from 18-hole (or 36-hole) Monday playoffs to a sudden-death format announced in 1976 (first used in 1979).
Multiple Winners
- Nick Faldo is the only player to have won two sudden-death playoffs at the Masters: one in 1989 against Scott Hoch and one in 1990 against Raymond Floyd.
- Byron Nelson and Sam Snead are both legends who won 18-hole playoffs in the past (in 1942 and 1954, respectively).
Also Checkout: Golfers with Most Golf Major Wins in Championship History
Fastest Finishes
One Hole (Sudden Death): Under the current format, many playoffs have ended on the first hole (the 18th hole), including:
- Rory McIlroy beat Justin Rose on the first hole in 2025.
- Sergio Garcia beat Justin Rose in 2017.
- Tiger Woods beat Chris DiMarco in 2005.
- Mike Weir beat Len Mattiace in 2003.
- Craig Stadler beat Dan Pohl in 1982.
The Longest Fight
- 36-Hole Playoffs (1935): The first playoff in Masters history, which took place on a Monday in 1935, was the longest. Gene Sarazen beat Craig Wood over 36 holes.
- 18-Hole Playoffs (Before 1976): Before 1976, ties were broken by playing a full 18-hole round the next day. In 1942, 1954, 1962, 1966, and 1970, these things happened.
- Sudden-Death Record: In the history of the Masters, no sudden-death playoff has ever gone on for more than two holes. The longest one, which only lasted two holes, was the 1979 (Fuzzy Zoeller), 1987 (Larry Mize), 1989 (Faldo), 1990 (Faldo), and 2009 (Angel Cabrera) tournaments.
Also Checkout: What Are The 4 Majors in Golf? Key Facts, History & Winners
FAQs
What happens if it gets too dark to play?
If it gets too dark to play, the committee usually suspends the round, or the players agree to stop, which means they have to stop right away or after finishing the hole they’re on. Unfinished rounds may be completed later on Monday.
Has a Masters playoff ever gone to Monday under the new rules?
No, under the current sudden-death rules that went into effect in 1976 (and were formally adopted for 1979), a Masters playoff has never gone to Monday. Since then, all playoffs have been decided on Sunday, usually on the first or second extra hole (the 10th and 18th holes).
Can more than two players enter a Masters playoff?
Yes, more than two players can enter a Masters playoff. If two or more players are tied at the end of 72 holes, they compete in a sudden-death format, starting on the 18th hole and moving to the 10th hole if necessary, alternating between them until a winner is determined.
Which holes are used in the Masters playoff?
The Masters Tournament uses a sudden-death playoff format that begins on the 18th hole and alternates to the 10th hole if necessary. Players take turns playing the 18th and 10th holes until someone wins. Since 2004, the playoff has only used these two holes, No. 18 (Holly) and No. 10 (Camellia), to pick the winner.
