What Does a Playoff at the Masters Look Like?

Like us watching at home, the leaderboard during the final round of the Masters could not sit still for a minute. After just a few holes there was no favorite or “sure thing” to be found anywhere in Augusta. After a tough missed putt on 18 from Rory McIlroy forced a playoff between him and Justin Rose, the final round continues into extra minutes. Here's what's about to go down.

Similar to the PGA TOUR’s sudden-death format, contenders go to extra holes until a winner emerges. At Augusta National, the playoff starts at the 18th hole. If no one takes it home, they move on to 10 and alternate on 18 and 10 until the Green Jacket is earned.

There have been 11 sudden-death playoffs at the Masters since 1976 when Clifford Robert made the change from the previous format of an additional round of 18 holes the Monday after the final round.

Justin Rose is no stranger to playoffs at the Masters after competing in the last playoff at Augusta National in 2017 in which Sergio Garcia birdied the first playoff hole to take home the win.

It's about time Rose gets a chance at redemption while McIlroy continues his chase for the illustrious Career Grand Slam. Grab some popcorn, it's all happening right now.

For those curious, here is the complete list of playoffs in tournament history:

1935 Gene Sarazen defeated Craig Wood

1942 Byron Nelson defeated Ben Hogan

1954 Sam Snead defeated Ben Hogan

1962 Arnold Palmer defeated Gary Player and Dow Finsterwald

1966 Jack Nicklaus defeated Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer

1970 Billy Casper defeated Gene Littler

1976 Start of sudden-death playoff format

1979 Fuzzy Zoeller defeated Ed Sneed and Tom Watson

1982 Craig Stadler defeated Dan Pohl

1987 Larry Mize defeated Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman

1989 Nick Faldo defeated Scott Hoch

1990 Nick Faldo defeated Raymond Floyd

2003 Mike Weir defeated Len Mattiace

2005 Tiger Woods defeated Chris DiMarco

2009 Angel Cabrera defeated Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell

2012 Bubba Watson defeated Louis Oosthuizen

2013 Adam Scott defeated Angel Cabrera

2017 Sergio Garcia defeated Justin Rose