In the event of a tie, it is standard practice for a play-off to take place between the players at the top of the leaderboard. This is how a winner is determined, and very rarely will a title ever be shared. The shot-for-shot declared tie between Lloyd Mangrum and Cary Middlecoff at the 1949 Motor City Open in Detroit is certainly an anomaly in golf history, but fondly remembered nonetheless.
Play-offs are of two formats – either the aggregate play-off or sudden death. The former is the oldest type in stroke play tournaments, whilst the latter is the most common. These formats will further vary in the different majors.
A 3-hole play-off aggregate stroke play will occur in the PGA Championship, whereas a 4-hole playoff is played in the Open Championship. If players are still tied, a sudden death hole-by-hole play-off ensues until a winner comes out on top. In the U.S. Open, prior to 2018 when regulations changed, all tied players would return the following day to win out an 18-hole play-off, and the sudden death format would take place if ties are still had by the end. Tie-breakers have since changed to just 2-hole aggregates now, preceding sudden death if necessary. In the Masters, the sudden death format will follow immediately after the 72 holes when players are tied in the lead.
Common to all majors however, are some of golf history’s most iconic play-offs that left fans in awe. Not only of the game itself, but of the endurance of the players, and their physical and mental fortitude. We take a look at some of the longest and most memorable play-offs in professional golf history.
1965 Azalea Open Invitational – 8 Holes
Illinois PGA Hall of Famer Dick Hart claimed his first and only PGA TOUR title after winning an 8-hole sudden death play-off against Phil Rodgers. Hart had initially wanted to opt out of the Azalea Open, stating he’d “planned to go fishing for the next several days rather than drive up to the Azalea”. After some convincing from fellow Tour player and friend, Harold Kneece, he’d reconsidered and signed up rather last minute. And what a good call that was! During the playoff, Hart and Rodgers made par on the first four holes. They both bogeyed on the fifth, then made par again on the next two holes. On the eighth, they were off the green. Rodgers shot another bogey and only Hart was able to recover, taking the winning playoff hole.
1978 Greater Milwaukee Open – 8 Holes
Lee Elder and Lee Trevino faced off in an 8-hole play-off, following Trevino’s impressive tie with a 14-foot birdie on the final hole. Prior to the game, in a show of true sportsmanship, Trevino had been helping his fellow competitor for hours on the range to improve his putting stroke. It certainly paid off in the end. In the play-off, they both matched the other, making birdie on the par-5 sixth hole, and par on each of the other holes leading up to the eighth. At the final hole, Trevino struck from the sand, missing the par putt. Elder two-putted from his advantage and took the win – his third of four PGA Tour titles.
1989 Dutch Open – 9 Holes
A European Tour record until it was met in 2013, the 9-hole playoff between José María Olazábal, Ronan Rafferty, and Roger Chapman was a strenuous one. Played in strong winds and heavy rain, the final hole was won at 8:30pm. Of the trio, Chapman left early, just after the first playoff hole. Olazábal had double bogeyed to win, whilst Rafferty struggled to carry on, mostly impeded by the weather. The playing conditions had also not at all been on the victor’s side, as he won with 7-over-par, scoring 40 for the extra 9 holes.
2024 Andalucia Masters – 9 Holes
19 years after his debut on the DP World Tour, Julien Guerrier claimed his first title, and all after an incredible 9-hole play-off. Both Guerrier and Jorge Campillo finished the event 21 under. Spain’s Campillo had made par on the first extra hole, sinking his putt from 15-feet. He missed three chances to seal a win on the third, seventh, and eighth playoff holes. For the ninth hole, he found himself in a greenside bunker, unable to get up and down. Guerrier made par then, ending the history-making playoff. It had been the Frenchman’s 230th start at the Andalica Masters, and a victory both hard-fought and long-awaited.