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PGA Championship playoff: History, aggregate format, holes used, rules if it’s tied at end of regulation
The 2024 PGA Championship had 15 players within five shots of the lead to start the final round.
That had all the makings of a potential playoff at Valhalla Golf Club.
The PGA Championship is unique in that it uses a three-hole aggregate playoff format.
The last time they needed extra holes to settle a PGA was in 2022 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
There have been 13 playoffs in PGA Championship history, with five of those using the current three-hole aggregate format. The first time that format was used was in 2000, the year of the epic Tiger Woods-Bob May playoff thriller.
The winner of the 2024 PGA will bank a tournament-record $3.3 million from a total prize pool of $18.5 million, also a tournament record.
Here’s what to know if there’s a tie after 72 holes of stroke play.
What is the PGA Championship playoff format?
If two or more players are tied after four rounds, there will be a three-hole aggregate playoff. Whoever has the lowest combined score over the three holes is the champion.
What if it’s still tied after the three holes?
There would then be a sudden-death, hole-by-hole playoff starting on No. 18, then continuing as needed to No. 13, No. 17 and No. 18 repeated.
Which holes are used?
According to the PGA of America, the three-hole aggregate playoff in 2024 will be contested on Nos. 13, 17 and 18. No. 13 is called “The Limestone Hole,” a 349-yard par 4, the shortest par 4 at Valhalla but one that features an island green. No. 17 is called “Straight Up” and is a 477-yard par 4. The 18th hole, dubbed “Photo Finish,” is a par 5 that measures 573 yards. Those yardages are the official Sunday numbers according to the PGA of America.
106th PGA: Leaderboard | How to watch | Money | Sunday photos
Who tees off first in aggregate playoff?
The playoff participants will draw numbers to determine who tees off first.
PGA Championship playoff history
The have been 13 times in all since the PGA switched to a stroke-play tournament in 1958 that a playoff was needed:
2022: Justin Thomas over Will Zalatoris
2011: Keegan Bradley over Jason Dufner
2010: Martin Kaymer over Bubba Watson
2004: Vijay Singh over Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard
2000: Tiger Woods over Bob May
1996: Mark Brooks over Kenny Perry
1993: Paul Azinger over Greg Norman
1987: Larry Nelson over Lanny Wadkins
1979: David Graham over Ben Crenshaw
1978: John Mahaffey over Jerry Pate and Tom Watson
1977: Lanny Wadkins over Gene Littler
1967: Don January over Don Massengale
1961: Jerry Barber or Don January
PGA Championship aggregate playoff history
The current three-hole aggregate format has been deployed five times:
2022: Justin Thomas over Will Zalatoris
2011: Keegan Bradley over Jason Dufner
2010: Martin Kaymer over Bubba Watson
2004: Vijay Singh over Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard
2000: Tiger Woods over Bob May
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 had a two-hole aggregate playoff since 2018.
2024 PGA Championship
Collin Morikawa tees off on the third hole during the final round of the 2024 PGA…
Collin Morikawa tees off on the third hole during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
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Brooks Koepka and his caddie walk the 15th fairway during the final round of the 2024…
Brooks Koepka and his caddie walk the 15th fairway during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Clare Grant/Louisville Courier Journal)
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Sahith Theegala tees off on the fifth hole during the final round of the 2024 PGA…
Sahith Theegala tees off on the fifth hole during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
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Collin Morikawa reacts after missing a putt on the seventh green during the final round of…
Collin Morikawa reacts after missing a putt on the seventh green during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
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Scottie Scheffler and his caddie walk off the 18th green after the final round of the…
Scottie Scheffler and his caddie walk off the 18th green after the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Matt Stone-USA TODAY Sports
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Brooks Koepka plans his shot off of the 17th tee box during the final round of…
Brooks Koepka plans his shot off of the 17th tee box during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Clare Grant/Louisville Courier Journal)
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Brooks Koepka and his caddie walk the 17th fairway to his ball during the final round…
Brooks Koepka and his caddie walk the 17th fairway to his ball during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Clare Grant/Louisville Courier Journal)
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Viktor Hovland reacts after a putt on the sixth green during the final round of the…
Viktor Hovland reacts after a putt on the sixth green during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
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Xander Schauffele walks to the fourth green during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship…
Xander Schauffele walks to the fourth green during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
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Shane Lowry tees off on the fifth hole during the final round of the 2024 PGA…
Shane Lowry tees off on the fifth hole during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
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Sahith Theegala greets spectators as he walks to the second tee during the final round of…
Sahith Theegala greets spectators as he walks to the second tee during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
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Fans watch as players come through the ninth hole during the final round of the 2024…
Fans watch as players come through the ninth hole during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Clare Grant/Louisville Courier Journal)
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Scottie Scheffler on the driving range during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at…
Scottie Scheffler on the driving range during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
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Alex McDonald of Little Rock, Arkansas and Adam Lucas and Terra Lucas of Pea Ridge, Arkansas,…
Alex McDonald of Little Rock, Arkansas and Adam Lucas and Terra Lucas of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, walk along the 10th fairway wearing hot dog hats during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
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British golfer Tommy Fleetwood lines up his putt at the 12th tee during the final round…
British golfer Tommy Fleetwood lines up his putt at the 12th tee during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Clare Grant/Louisville Courier Journal)
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Talor Gooch bounces his ball on his driver on the 10th tee during the final round…
Talor Gooch bounces his ball on his driver on the 10th tee during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Clare Grant/Louisville Courier Journal).
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Jordan Smith prepares to putt on the ninth green during the final round of the 2024…
Jordan Smith prepares to putt on the ninth green during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Clare Grant/Louisville Courier Journal)
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A volunteer takes a break from the sun during the final round of the 2024 PGA…
A volunteer takes a break from the sun during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Clare Grant/Louisville Courier Journal)
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Scottie Scheffler on the putting green during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at…
Scottie Scheffler on the putting green during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
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A spectator in a cheese cutter hat watches British golfer Tommy Fleetwood at the 11th green…
A spectator in a cheese cutter hat watches British golfer Tommy Fleetwood at the 11th green during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Clare Grant/Louisville Courier Journal)
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Alejandro Tosti tees off on the 13th hole during the final round of the 2024 PGA…
Alejandro Tosti tees off on the 13th hole during the final round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Clare Grant/Louisville Courier Journal)
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