Could the Masters end in a playoff for the second straight year? It seems impossible considering the lead Rory McIlroy had going into the weekend.
The 2025 champion saw his six-shot lead before Round 3 go up in smoke after going 3 over at Amen Corner. Thanks to a host of stellar days by the likes of Cameron Young, Sam Burns, Jason Day and, naturally, Scottie Scheffler, it’s anyone’s guess who will win these Masters … or how many holes they’ll need to do so.
Last year’s Masters went to a playoff, and if the 2026 event were to follow suit, it would be the third time in the tournament’s 90-year history that 72 holes wasn’t enough to determine the wearer of the iconic green jacket. McIlroy finally got his last year with a birdie that put him past Justin Rose, who joined Ben Hogan as the only players in Masters history to lose twice in playoffs. The 1989 and 1990 Masters not only both saw playoffs, they also saw the same champion in Nick Faldo. Bubba Watson won his first green jacket by beating Louis Oosthuizen on the second playoff hole in 2012, and the same thing happened in 2013 with Adam Scott besting Angel Cabrera.
Watch the Masters live on Fubo (free trial)
Here’s what to expect if the Masters needs a playoff to decide a winner again.
What is the Masters playoff format?
If there’s a tie atop the Masters leaderboard after 72 holes, the leaders head to a sudden-death playoff similar to the format for PGA Tour events. They start on the 18th hole, and if there’s still a tie, they head to the 10th. The playoff will bounce between No. 18 and No. 10 until there is a winner. No sudden-death playoff has ever gone past two holes in Masters history.
When the Masters first instituted the sudden-death format in 1976, players began at the 10th hole and progressed through the back nine until someone won a hole. The tournament began using a 36-hole playoff format that was shortened to 18 holes by the 1940s.
Masters playoff history
Masters coverage 2026: How to watch on TV, live stream
Round 4 of the 2026 Masters will broadcast nationally on Paramount+, CBS’ subscription streaming service, starting at noon before switching to CBS at 2 p.m. The CBS broadcast is available to stream via Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers, and the tournament is available to stream for free on Masters.com and the Masters app. Featured group and hole streaming from PGA Tour Live is available on the ESPN app (with a subscription to the Select plan) starting at 10:15 a.m.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: What is Masters playoff format? How it works, playoff holes, history
Reporting by Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
