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What is the playoff format for The Masters 2018?

By Jake Ellis

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 05: A Masters flag is seen during a practice round prior to the start of the 2017 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2017 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 05: A Masters flag is seen during a practice round prior to the start of the 2017 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2017 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) /
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The 2018 Masters is upon us! Here is how sudden death in the playoff form works if a playoff should be necessary.

Each of the different majors has their own format that they use. All of the four majors used to use the 18 hole format. The US Open changed their format to a two-hole aggregate playoff just this year. The Open Championship used this format until 1985, when it was reduced to four holes. The three-hole format is used for the PGA Championship, but they used to have an eighteen hole playoff until 1977 when it changed to a sudden death in 1977, and adopted the three-hole format in 2000. The Masters Tournament used the eighteen hole format until 1976 (the first sudden-death playoff was in 1979). The first playoff that happened at The Masters was a 36 hole playoff match when Gene Sarazen defeated Craig Wood.

The Masters playoff uses a sudden death format, which makes the drama sometimes excruciating. The playoff begins on the 18th hole and then moves to the 10th if a second hole is even necessary. It alternates between those two holes until a winner comes out of it. One of the great things about sudden death is that it ensures that the tournament can wrap up quickly. No sudden death playoff has lasted more than two holes. There have been many memorable playoffs, from Tiger Woods against Chris DiMarco to Bubba Watson vs. Louis Oosthuizen. The last playoff in the tournament actually happened last year in 2017, when Sergio Garcia was able to defeat Justin Rose on the first playoff hole to win his first major tournament.

This Masters field is nothing like we have seen in quite some time. Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods are playing some of the best golf they have played in a long time, while the young guns such as Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlory have been waiting for this time for a while. How many more times are they going to be able to say that they were able to beat two legends at or near the top of their game? Tune in this week to find out who will put on the Green Jacket this year!

Next: 10 best shots in The Masters history

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