dailyloe.com – The Masters playoff format determines a winner if players are tied after 72 holes. It is a sudden-death format starting on Augusta National’s 18th tee. Players repeat the 18th hole and then the 10th hole if needed. This sequence continues until a champion is decided.
The format keeps patrons together for viewing. It provides the best chance to watch playoff action. This current method was adopted in 1977. It replaced previous longer playoff formats.
Historically, playoffs were held on Mondays. The original format was a 36-hole playoff used once. It later became an 18-hole playoff used five times. The sudden-death change happened over four decades ago.
The playoff has been needed 12 times in Masters history. Rory McIlroy won the most recent playoff in 2025. He birdied the 73rd hole to edge Justin Rose. That victory completed McIlroy’s career Grand Slam.
Justin Rose also lost the 2017 Masters playoff. He was defeated by Sergio Garcia in that instance. Jack Nicklaus won a playoff in 1966 for consecutive wins. He was the first player to achieve that feat.
Fuzzy Zoeller won a playoff as a rookie in 1979. He was the first rookie champion since 1935. Nick Faldo won playoffs in 1989 and 1990. Those were the first two of his three Green Jackets.
Tiger Woods won a playoff against Chris DiMarco in 2005. A famous chip shot helped set up that victory. Bubba Watson hit a hook shot from trees in 2012. He won on the second extra hole against Louis Oosthuizen.
Adam Scott defeated Angel Cabrera in a 2013 playoff. That dramatic finish occurred in near darkness. The playoff format ensures a clear Masters champion. It provides immediate drama on Augusta’s famous holes.[]
Source: Today's Golfer
