Date Published: 27/03/2026
When The Masters Tournament is tied after 72 holes, everything comes down to a sudden-death playoff at Augusta National Golf Club.
It’s one of the most intense moments in golf, where a single hole can decide who wins the Green Jacket. But how exactly does the playoff format work, and how many holes are played?
The Masters uses a sudden-death playoff format to determine the winner.
If two or more players are tied after the final round, they return to the course immediately to begin the playoff. Unlike some tournaments that use total scores across multiple holes, The Masters is decided one hole at a time.
At The Masters Tournament, there is no fixed number of playoff holes.
Instead, the format continues until one player wins a hole outright.
While many playoffs are decided quickly, some can extend over several holes depending on how players perform under pressure.
The playoff takes place on two of the most iconic holes at Augusta National Golf Club:
The playoff always starts on the 18th hole. If players remain tied, they move to the 10th, continuing to alternate between the two until a winner emerges.
The sudden-death format creates immediate pressure. There’s no room for recovery.
One mistake can cost the tournament, while one great shot can secure victory. That’s what makes playoffs at The Masters Tournament some of the most memorable moments in the sport.
While most golfers won’t experience a sudden-death playoff at Augusta, pressure moments are part of every round. Whether it’s standing over a putt to break a personal best or competing with friends, handling those situations is key to improving your game.
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Players compete hole by hole, and the lowest score on each hole wins. If players tie, they move on to the next hole until a winner is decided.
The playoff starts on the 18th hole, then moves to the 10th, alternating between the two until there is a winner.
No. The current sudden-death format was introduced in 1976. Before that, playoffs were played over 18 holes.
The playoff continues for as many holes as needed until one player wins a hole outright.