ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The 2022 PGA Championship became the first major championship to go to a playoff since the 2017 Masters.
Could there be extra holes at the 2023 PGA?
It’s not likely someone runs away with the tournament so there could be a gridlock at the top of the leaderboard. In six previous majors at Oak Hill, only 31 players have finished in the red, with the averaging winning score 4.3-under par.
The rigorous East Course at Oak Hill Country Club has challenged the field with rain, steep bunkers and dense rough. It already spit out Matt Fitzpatrick. Jason Day, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young before the weekend.
Scottie Scheffler called Oak Hill’s No. 6 “probably the hardest hole I’ve ever played.”
Justin Thomas outlasted Will Zalatoris in the playoff to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy last year at Southern Hills Country Club. It was Thomas’ second major championship title.
Here’s what to know if there’s a tie after 72 holes of stroke play.
What is the PGA Championship playoff format
If players are tied after four rounds, they must compete in a playoff to determine a winner. All golfers tied for first place will play in a three-hole aggregate playoff. Whoever has the lowest combined score over the three holes is the champion.
Which holes are included in the playoff
The three-hole playoff would start at No. 14 and then include No. 15 and No. 18.
Who tees off first in the aggregate playoff
The players draw numbers to determine who tees off first.
What if it’s still tied after the three-hole playoff
There would be a sudden-death, hole-by-hole playoff starting at No. 18, then No. 14, No. 15 and repeating if necessary. The holes are played until someone wins a hole outright.
PGA aggregate playoff history
The current format has been deployed five times:
- 2000: Tiger Woods defeated Bob May at Vahalla Golf Club
- 2004: Vijay Singh defeated Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard at Whistling Straits
- 2010: Martin Kaymer defeated Bubba Watson at Whistling Straits
- 2011: Keegan Bradley defeated Jason Dufner at Atlanta Athletic Club
- 2022: Justin Thomas defeated Will Zalatoris at Southern Hills
Do the other golf majors have the same playoff format
No. The British Open has a four-hole aggregate playoff. The Masters’ structure is a stroke-play sudden death alternating between the No. 18 and No. 10 holes. The U.S. Open has tied players facing off in a full 18-hole playoff on Monday.