PGA Championship: The Playoff Format and Its Role in Men’s Golf

The PGA of America uses a three-hole aggregate session to decide the winner of the PGA Championship if a playoff is required.

If two or more players are tied after 72 holes of regulation in this format, they will play three more holes, with the winner being the player with the lowest overall score. Sudden death is applied if players are still tied.

When Tiger Woods defeated Bob May at Valhalla in 2000, the format—previously only sudden death—was employed for the first time.

The PGA Championship converted to a stroke-play competition in 1958, and since then, there have been 13 playoffs. Since there hasn’t been a sudden-death playoff after the three-hole aggregate, here are some examples of when the current format was required to award the Wanamaker Trophy:

• 2022: Justin Thomas def. Will Zalatoris, Southern Hills CC
• 2011: Keegan Bradley def. Jason Dufner, Atlanta Athletic Club
• 2010: Martin Kaymer def. Bubba Watson, Whistling Straits
• 2004: Vijay Singh def. Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard, Whistling Straits
• 2000: Tiger Woods def. Bob May, Valhalla Golf Club

The PGA Championship this year will take place at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, from May 15–18.

The U.S. Open utilizes a two-hole aggregate, The Open uses a four-hole aggregate, and the Masters employs sudden death for the other men’s major playoff formats.