What happens if there’s a tie after 72 holes? PGA Championship playoff format explained

We’ve only gone to extra holes once in the last decade. But, just in case, what’s the PGA Championship playoff format?

If required, those tied at the top after 72 holes will go head-to-head across three extra holes with the PGA Championship playoff format using a aggregate score to decide the winner.

If any players still cannot be separated after the first three holes, they will enter a sudden-death playoff.

While it is yet to be confirmed for the 2025 tournament, the last time the PGA Championship was at Quail Hollow, back in 2017, the three holes touted for any potential playoff were the par-5 10th, par-3 17th, and par-4 18th.

The PGA Championship has been decided by a playoff 13 times in the event’s history, with five of those using the three-hole aggregate format. It was first used in 2000 when Tiger Woods defeated Bob May in an epic at Valhalla.

A playoff was last required at Southern Hills in 2022 when Justin Thomas beat Will Zalatoris. Before that, it had been 2011 when Keegan Bradley beat Jason Dufner, a year after Martin Kaymer had defeated Bubba Watson by the same method.

PGA Championship playoff history

A playoff has been required to decide the PGA Championship on 13 occasions since the tournament switched to a stroke-play event in 1958.

• 2022: Justin Thomas beat Will Zalatoris at Southern Hills
• 2011: Keegan Bradley beat Jason Dufner at Atlanta Athletic Club
• 2010: Martin Kaymer beat Bubba Watson at Whistling Straits
• 2004: Vijay Singh beat Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard at Whistling Straits
• 2000: Tiger Woods beat Bob May at Valhalla
• 1996: Mark Brooks beat Kenny Perry at Valhalla
• 1993: Paul Azinger beat Greg Norman at Inverness Club
• 1987: Larry Nelson beat Lanny Wadkins at PGA National
• 1979: David Graham beat Ben Crenshaw at Oakland Hills
• 1978: John Mahaffey beat Jerry Pate and Tom Watson at Oakmont
• 1977: Lanny Wadkins beat Gene Littler at Pebble Beach
• 1967: Don January beat Don Massengale at Columbine
• 1961: Jerry Barber beat Don January at Olympia Fields

Do all of the majors have the same playoff format?

No. The Masters uses a sudden death format alternating between the 18th and 10th holes. The US Open replaced the 18-hole Monday playoff with a two-hole aggregate playoff in 2018. And The Open uses a four-hole aggregate playoff.