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What are the Masters playoff rules and format if there's a tie?

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this post was published on April 8, 2023. It has since been updated. 

The tournament committee at Augusta National doesn’t mess around when it comes to a playoff at the Masters.

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After playing a final round on Sunday, any golfers tied for the lead will head back to the tee box at No. 18 and play the hole in a sudden death showdown. The lowest score on the hole wins the tournament, the green jacket and the respect that comes with it.

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If players are still tied after replaying No. 18, the sudden death moves to No. 10 with the two holes alternating until a winner emerges.

Only 17 of the previous 86 Masters tournaments have featured a playoff. Sergio García’s victory over Justin Rose in 2017 was the latest instance.

Before that there was quite a run on playoff finishes at Augusta:

  • 2013: Adam Scott def. Angel Cabrera
  • 2012: Bubba Watson def. Louis Oosthuizen
  • 2009: Angel Cabrera def. Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell

Tiger Woods won a playoff against Chris DiMarco in 2005 and Nick Faldo famously won back-to-back green jackets via playoff in 1989 and 1990.

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