Masters playoff format: What happens in the event of a tie at Augusta?

With a crowded Masters leaderboard heading into Sunday, let’s take a closer look.

What is the Masters playoff format?

If a playoff is needed at the Masters, players will return to the 18th tee and repeat Augusta’s notorious finishing hole. If they still can’t be separated, they will head down the 10th – which runs parallel to 18. They will repeat that sequence until a winner is determined.

These two holes not only keep the patrons together, but gives them the best chance to watch the action in the event of a playoff.

Has it always been like this?

Nope. For many years, the Masters playoff format was played on the Monday (there was no golf lottery in those days!) and was originally 36 holes – which happened on one occasion – before later becoming 18, which was utilized five times.

Then, in 1977, Augusta National adopted a sudden-death playoff to determine the winner of the Green Jacket. The existing Masters playoff format has been needed 12 times to date, including most recently in 2025 when Rory McIlroy birdied the 73rd hole to edge Justin Rose and complete the Grand Slam.

Rose also lost the previous Masters playoff – that time to Sergio Garcia in 2017.

Notable playoffs in Masters history include 1966, when Jack Nicklaus became the first player to win the Masters twice in a row, and 1979, when Fuzzy Zoeller became the first rookie to win since 1935.

Nick Faldo was the next player to go back-to-back, and he needed extra holes to win the first two of his three Green Jackets in 1989 and ’90.

Remember that Tiger Woods chip in 2005? That set him on his way to a playoff with Chris DiMarco, which he won. And that famous Bubba Watson hook shot from the trees in 2012 was at the second extra hole against Louis Oosthuizen.

And who can forget Adam Scott seeing off Angel Cabrera in near darkness 12 months later?

Masters Playoff history

Here’s a quick rundown of every time the Masters has gone to extra holes…

YEARWINNERRUNNER(S)-UPTOTAL HOLES1935Gene SarazenCraig Wood361942Byron NelsonBen Hogan181954Sam SneadBen Hogan181962Arnold PalmerGary Player
Dow Finsterwald181966Jack NicklausTommy Jacobs
Gay Brewer181970Billy CasperGene Littler181979Fuzzy ZoellerEd Sneed
Tom Watson21982Craig StadlerDan Pohl11987Larry MizeSeve Ballesteros
Greg Norman21989Nick FaldoScott Hoch21990Nick FaldoRaymond Floyd22003Mike WeirLen Mattiace12005Tiger WoodsChris DiMarco12009Angel CabreraKenny Perry
Chad Campbell22012Bubba WatsonLouis Oosthuizen22013Adam ScottAngel Cabrera22017Sergio GarciaJustin Rose12025Rory McIlroyJustin Rose1