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What happens if the Masters goes to a playoff?

By David Salituro

Sergio Garcia of Spain wins in a playoff over Justin Rose of England during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 9, 2017. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Augusta National via Getty Images)
Sergio Garcia of Spain wins in a playoff over Justin Rose of England during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 9, 2017. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Augusta National via Getty Images) /
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If the 2019 Masters goes to its 18th playoff in tournament history, a sudden-death format will be used.

With a tightly packed leaderboard on Masters Sunday, 72 holes might not be enough to decide who gets to slip on the green jacket.

Four-time champion Tiger Woods currently leads at 13-under after the 15th hole, but five players are within two shots of the lead. Since the tournament was founded in 1934, the Masters has gone to extra holes 17 times, most recently in 2017.

If a playoff is necessary, here is the format they will use:

Format:

The playoff will be sudden-death, with the first player to post a lower score on a hole winning the title. The Masters did use an 18-hole playoff before 1979, with the exception of 1935, which had a 36-hole playoff. Should extra holes be necessary, players will begin on the 18th hole before going to the 10th. They would then rotate between those two holes if necessary.

Past playoffs:

2017: Sergio Garcia def. Justin Rose on first extra hole

2013: Adam Scott def. Angel Cabrera on second extra hole

2012: Bubba Watson def. Louis Oosthuizen on second extra hole

2009: Angel Cabrera def. Kenny Perry on second extra hole (Chad Campbell eliminated on first hole)

2005: Tiger Woods def. Chris DiMarco on first extra hole

2003: Mike Weir def. Len Mattiace on first extra hole

1990: Nick Faldo def. Raymond Floyd on second extra hole

1989: Nick Faldo def. Scott Hoch on second extra hole

1987: Larry Mize def. Greg Norman on second extra hole (Seve Ballesteros eliminated on first hole)

1982: Craig Stadler def. Dan Pohl on first extra hole

1979: Fuzzy Zoeller def. Tom Watson on second extra hole (Ed Sneed eliminated on first hole)

1970: Billy Casper (69) def. Gene Littler (74)

1966: Jack Nicklaus (70) def. Tommy Jacobs (72) and Gay Brewer (78)

1962: Arnold Palmer (68) def. Gary Player (71) and Dow Finsterwald (77)

1954: Sam Snead (70) def. Ben Hogan (71)

Next. Tiger Woods nearly falls after clumsy security guard slips. dark

1942: Byron Nelson (69) def. Ben Hogan 70)

1935: Gene Sarazen (144) def. Craig Wood (149)

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