What Is The Players Championship Playoff Format?

There are many perks of putting in a winning performance at The Players Championship.

For example, there is the first prize of $4.5m, while a significant number of FedEx Cup points and Official World Ranking Points are available for the winner, as well as a PGA Tour card for five years and exemptions to the Majors. 

With potentially life-changing benefits on offer, as well as the prestige that comes with winning the PGA Tour's flagship event, it's perhaps not surprising that it's often a tight affair, with three wins by just one shot in the last four editions. 

Even then, playoffs aren’t particularly commonplace at the event, but from time to time it’s the only way to separate players at the top of the leaderboard after 72 holes.

For example, in 2015, Rickie Fowler overcame the challenges of Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner to win in a playoff, while four years earlier, KJ Choi lifted the trophy after beating David Toms in a similar manner. 

In 2024, if an outright winner isn’t found after 72 holes there will be a three-hole aggregate playoff. The players will head back to the 16th, before playing the 17th and 18th, with the player with the lowest score after the three holes declared the winner.

If there is still a tie after the three holes, the playoff will head to a sudden death shootout, beginning on the 17th, before moving to the 18th, then back to the 16th, 17th and so on until a winner is found.

Players competing in a playoff will certainly face a robust test of their abilities. As well as dealing with any nerves, they will need to get to grips with a par-5 16th that, while offering the chance of reaching the green in two, also has a large expanse of water to the right, as well as oak trees and bunkers near the tiered green sloping left to right towards the water.

The par-3 17th barely needs an introduction given its status as one of the most famous in golf. Needless to say, though, many a pro has come a cropper trying to land on the island green, with hundreds of balls ending up in the water over the years.

As for the dogleg left 18th, there is water down the left and bunkers guarding the tiered green to consider.

Overall, given the holes chosen, any playoff will ensure whoever does eventually lift the trophy will have earned it.