Golf Majes come and go very soon. Seventy -two holes never feel enough.
If you hope for extra holes, it helps to know how each big deal with a play off because not all formats are the same. Which one gives the biggest drama? Which one feels the right? Let’s break them all so you can decide yourself.
Masters
Format: Game for sudden blows of sudden death
Play off holes: Alternative between hole 18 and hole 10
If you missed it, the 2025 masters had a play off that presented Justin Rose and Rory Mcilroy. The unexpected death of death begins shortly after the game as the players start in the 18th hole and then pass to 10. They repeat this order until someone gets a hole.
PGA championship
Format: Game in 3-year stroke, then sudden death if necessary
Play off holes: Depends on the Golf Course
The PGA Championship chooses a Total Play with 3 holes. Anyone who has the lowest combined score wins. They go to sudden death if there is still a tie after three holes. In Quail Hollow in 2025, the holes used will be 16, 17 and 18.
| year | Winner | The controller (s) | locale | Play off format and used holes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Justin Thomas | Will zalatoryis | Southern Hills CC | Aggregate with 3 holes: holes 13, 17, 18 |
| 2011 | KEEGAN BRADLEY | Jason Dufner | Atlanta athletic | Aggregate with 3 holes: holes 16, 17, 18 |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | Bob May | Valhalla Golf Club | Aggregate with 3 holes: holes 16, 17, 18 |
We open
Format: 2-year stroke game, then sudden death if necessary
Play off holes: Depends on the Golf Course
US Open had a play off with 18 holes on Monday after the tournament. So we got the Tiger VS Rocco confrontation in 2008.
It is now cut into a Play off the 2 -hole aggregate, followed by sudden death if the players are still connected. It is more efficient for TV and assignment, but since it was changed in 2018, there was no open off open Play in the US. Maybe we’ll get a year to try this format.
The open championship
Format: Game of aggregate stroke with 4 holes, then sudden death
Play off holes: Depends on the Golf Course
If there is a tie in the open championship, the players go to a play off with 4 holes across different holes. The overall result in those four holes determines the champion player of the year. If they are still connected after that, they enter into sudden deaths.
Here is a look at the latest Play off and selected holes.
| year | Winner | The controller (s) | locale | Used Play off holes used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Zach Johnson | Marc Leishman, Louis Oosthuizen | St. Andrews | Holes 1, 2, 17, 18 |
| 2009 | Stewart zinc | Tom Watson | Beronel | Holes 5, 6, 17, 18 |
| 2002 | Ernie | Thomas Levet, Steve Elkington, Stuart Appleby | Muirfield | Holes 1, 2, 17, 18 |
So… which one is the best?
Everyone is eligible for their opinion on the best great format of play off.
I will never forget the open duel with 18 holes between the media and the forests. Now that the format of Play off in the US has changed, I can’t say I’m excited about it.
The open championship is not my favorite favorite, but its Play Off’s configuration is the best skills test to determine a real winner.
Honestly, I’m just happy at all times we get extra holes and diplomas should continue.
What do you think? Which one is the best?
office Which Major Golf has the best format of play off? first appeared in MygolfSSS.
