A good 20 players came into the final round at the 2026 PGA Championship with a realistic shot at walking away with the Wanamaker Trophy. With so much traffic atop the leaderboard chasing Alex Smalley, playing in just his fifth career major, it wouldn’t be surprising if we need more than 72 holes to decide a winner.
In case there’s a tie after everyone finished the 18th today at Aronimink, they’ll go to a playoff. Justin Thomas was the last one to win the PGA Championship in such a manner, sinking birdies on the first two playoff holes at Southern Hills in 2022 before putting Will Zalatoris away with a par on the third and final bonus round. Martin Kaymer has done it too, going back and forth with Bubba Watson over the first two extras at Whistling Straits in 2010 before winning it with a bogey.
All four of golf’s majors have different playoff formats. Rory McIlroy won his first Masters title in 2025 by beating Justin Rose in sudden death. The U.S. Open and British Open both use an aggregate playoff like the PGA does, but each has a different amount of holes to play in the overtime round.
Watch PGA Championship live on Fubo (free trial)
Here’s what to expect if the PGA Championship needs a playoff to decide a winner.
What is the PGA Championship playoff format?
If there’s a tie atop the PGA Championship leaderboard after 72 holes, the players will play a three-hole aggregate to determine the champion. At Aronimink, the playoff will be the par-4 No. 10, par-3 No. 17 and par-4 No. 18. If there’s still a tie after three holes, the playoff will continue to a sudden-death format, playing the 18th over again until someone wins a hole.
The PGA of America initially had an 18-hole playoff before switching to a sudden-death format, played for the first time in 1977. Two decades and six playoffs later, the format would change again to the current three-hole aggregate.
PGA Championship playoff history
Where to watch PGA Championship 2026
Round 4 of the 2026 PGA Championship will broadcast nationally on ESPN starting at 10 a.m. before switching to CBS at 3 p.m. The main broadcast is available to stream via Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers. Featured group and hole streaming from PGA Tour Live is available on the ESPN app (with a subscription to the Select plan) starting at 8 a.m.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: What is PGA Championship playoff format? Here are the rules
Reporting by Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
