What happens if there’s a tie after 72 holes? PGA Championship playoff format explained
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With a packed leaderboard heading into Sunday at the PGA Championship, we could be left with a tie after 72 holes. Here’s how a potential playoff will work at Valhalla.
Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa are tied at the top as the final round of the year’s second men’s golf Major gets underway in Kentucky. The American Ryder Cup teammates are locked at 15-under-par but there are 15 players within five strokes and the course looks set for low scoring once again after a week that has already seen a 62 from Schauffele on Thursday and another from Shane Lowry on Saturday.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see the tournament need a playoff to decide the winner of the Wanamaker trophy, with both the 2000 and 1996 tournaments at Valhalla going to extra holes, so decided to delve into the format.
If required, those tied at the top after 72 holes will go head-to-head across three extra holes with an aggregate score deciding the winner. The chosen holes at Valhalla are the par-4 13th, the par-4 17th and the par-5 18th.
If any players still cannot be separated after the first three extra holes, they’ll enter a sudden-death playoff, starting at the 18th, then moving to the 13th, and 17th before returning to the 18th if required.
The PGA Championship has been decided by a playoff 13 times in the event’s history, with five of those using the three-hole aggregate format. It was first used in 2000 when Tiger Woods defeated Bob May in an epic at Valhalla.
A playoff was last required two years ago at Southern Hills Country Club when Justin Thomas beat Will Zalatoris. Before that, it had been 2011 when Keegan Bradley beat Jason Dufner, a year after Martin Kaymer had defeated Bubba Watson by the same method.
Should this year’s championship go to a player they will not only be vying for the famous trophy and a Major title, but a record $3.3m winner’s cheque from the record $18.5m prize fund.
PGA Championship 2024: Playoff holes guide
Hole No.13: The Limestone Hole
Par 4 | 351 Yards
2024 average (thru 54 holes): 3.81 (14)
It may be the shortest two-shotter on the course, but this signature hole was still responsible for the
most triple bogeys in 2014. A cluster of six bunkers lurk to the left of the landing zone, 70ft below the tee box. From here, the approach plays to an island green built up with boulders and a mini waterfall surrounding it. It was here that Tom Watson came to grief while leading in 2000, and Phil Mickelson spun back into the water twice during the same Championship.
Hole No.17: Straight Up
Par 4 | 472 Yards
2024 average (thru 54 holes): 4.06 (8)
The tee shot must find the uphill, left-angling fairway, which means avoiding large bunkers either side of the landing area. Only the biggest hitters will be capable of clearing the left-hand trap, hence most will be holding back and leaving a semi-blind approach with a mid-iron.
Hole No.18: Photo Finish
Par 5 | 570 Yards
2024 average (thru 54 holes): 4.47 (18)
This epic finishing hole has been extended by 30 yards and bends gracefully to the right, with a large bunker to the left of a generous landing area and a craggy lagoon on the right. Most players can get home in two but will need to contend with a central bunker which wraps around the horseshoe-shaped green to create three distinct putting areas. The green also sits in an amphitheatre which is capable of housing 20,000 spectators.
PGA Championship playoff history
A playoff has been required to decide the PGA Championship on 13 occasions since the tournament switched to a stroke-play event in 1958.
- 2022: Justin Thomas over Will Zalatoris at Southern Hills
- 2011: Keegan Bradley over Jason Dufner at Atlanta Athletic Club
- 2010: Martin Kaymer over Bubba Watson at Whistling Straits
- 2004: Vijay Singh over Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard at Whistling Straits
- 2000: Tiger Woods over Bob May at Valhalla
- 1996: Mark Brooks over Kenny Perry at Valhalla
- 1993: Paul Azinger over Greg Norman at Inverness Club
- 1987: Larry Nelson over Lanny Wadkins at PGA National
- 1979: David Graham over Ben Crenshaw at Oakland Hills
- 1978: John Mahaffey over Jerry Pate and Tom Watson at Oakmont
- 1977: Lanny Wadkins over Gene Littler at Pebble Beach
- 1967: Don January over Don Massengale at Columbine
- 1961: Jerry Barber over Don January at Olympia Fields
Do all of the Majors have the same playoff format?
No. The Masters uses stroke-play sudden death alternating between the No. 18 and No. 10 holes. The US Open replaced the 18-hole Monday playoff with a two-hole aggregate playoff in 2018. And The Open uses a four-hole aggregate playoff.
About the Author
Rob specializes in the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the Ryder Cup, spending large chunks of his days reading about, writing about, and watching the tours each month.
He’s passionate about the equipment used by professional golfers and is also a font of knowledge regarding golf balls, golf trolleys, and golf bags, testing thousands down the years.
You can email Rob or get in touch with him on X.
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The 18th hole at Valhalla will play a key role if the PGA Championship goes to a playoff.
