As great as it is to see a golfer don the green jacket and claim their Masters victory, we can’t help but think that 72 holes of Masters golf is never enough. The idea of a Masters playoff is one that any true Masters fan loves to think about.
Masters playoff format
Under current rules, if two or more players are tied after 72 holes on Sunday, a sudden-death playoff begins.
- The playoff begins on the par-4 18th hole.
- If players remain tied after playing the 18th, they head to the par- 4 10th hole.
- If still tied, they cycle back to the 18th, then 10th, and so on, and sudden-death continues until one player emerges with the better score on a given hole.
History of the Masters playoff format
The current Masters playoff format (sudden-death) started in 1976. Prior to 1976, the format for a playoff at the Masters was a full 18 holes to determine the champion. The 18-hole playoff would be on the following Monday.
The first Masters playoff was the only 36-hole Masters playoff in which Gene Sarazen beat Craig Wood. By the time the 1942 Masters ended in a tie between Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, the format was changed to an 18-hole next-day playoff.
In 1976, the Masters adopted a sudden-death format instead of a full 18-hole next-day playoff. However, it was not put into use until a few years later. The first sudden-death Masters playoff took place in 1979, when Fuzzy Zoeller edged out Ed Sneed and Tom Watson.
The rationale behind sudden-death was to provide a more immediate, high-stakes finish on Sunday. As great as extra holes can be, it was determined that people want a champion crowned on Sunday.
The starting hole for the Masters playoff has changed over the years. For many years, it started on 10 and then went to 11. In 2005, the 18-10 hole rotation started and it’s remained that way since.
A closer look at the 18th and 10th holes
The 18th hole, named Holly, is an uphill par-4 with a famously narrow tee shot. The second shot requires an accurate mid- or long-iron approach.
The 10th hole, known as Camelia, is one of the toughest par-4s on the course. It plays a little longer than 18 and drops drastically in elevation from tee to fairway, requiring a precision iron shot to a green that tilts back to front.
While players usually need a birdie to win the playoff on No. 18, a par is often good enough on the difficult 10th.
When was the last Masters playoff?
The last time the Masters went to a sudden-death playoff was in 2017 when Sergio García defeated Justin Rose on the first extra hole (18). García made a birdie while Rose struggled.
You would have to return to 2013 for a Masters playoff that went beyond one playoff hole. That was the year Adam Scott made par-birdie to beat Angel Cabrera who went par-par.
Final thoughts
The 2025 Masters tournament is the 89th edition and there have been 17 total playoffs in its history. Since the sudden-death playoff format was implemented, it has never required more than two extra holes.
Let’s see if 2025 is the year!
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