(Editor’s note: Follow along with the action in the final round of the Masters with our live updates.)
The race for the Masters title is coming down to the wire. If the final round ends with a tie atop the leaderboard, how does the Masters decide a winner?
Rory McIlroy is eyeing his first green jacket and the career grand slam. But to do it, he’ll have to hold off Bryson DeChambeau, who beat McIlroy to win the 2024 U.S. Open in June. McIlroy enters with a slim two-stroke lead after DeChambeau closed his third round with a tough birdie putt.
In the 88 previous Masters Tournaments, 17 have gone to a playoff after 72 holes. The Masters going to a playoff is nearly as old as the tournament itself, with Greg Sarazen winning the second-ever green jacket in a tiebreaker in 1935. Nick Faldo won back-to-back Masters in playoffs in 1989 and 1990. And it wouldn’t be Masters history if Tiger Woods wasn’t involved: He stormed back to beat Chris DiMarco in a playoff for the 2005 title in one of his signature moments.
Here’s what to expect if Augusta National hosts playoff golf once again:
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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.
The Masters’ playoff holes used to start at the 10th hole and progress through the back nine in the same sudden-death format. No playoff has ever gone past two holes in Masters history.
Masters playoff history
- 1935: Greg Sarazen def. Craig Wood
- 1942: Byron Nelson def. Ben Hogan
- 1954: Sam Snead def. Ben Hogan
- 1962: Arnold Palmer def. Gary Player and Dow Finsterwald
- 1966: Jack Nicklaus def. Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer
- 1970: Billy Casper def. Gene Littler
- 1979: Fuzzy Zoeller def. Ed Sneed and Tom Watson (2nd playoff hole)
- 1982: Craig Stadler def. Dan Pohl
- 1987: Larry Mize def. Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman (2nd playoff hole)
- 1989: Nick Faldo def. Scott Hoch (2nd playoff hole)
- 1990: Nick Faldo def. Raymond Floyd (2nd playoff hole)
- 2003: Mike Weir def. Len Mattiace
- 2005: Tiger Woods def. Chris DiMarco
- 2009: Angel Cabrera def. Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell (2nd playoff hole)
- 2012: Bubba Watson def. Louis Oosthuizen (2nd playoff hole)
- 2013: Adam Scott def. Angel Cabrera (2nd playoff hole)
- 2017: Sergio Garcia def. Justin Rose
How to watch the Masters
- Dates: April 10-13
- Final round start time: TBA
- TV channel: CBS (2-7 p.m.)
- Streaming: Paramount+ | Masters.com and the Masters app | Fubo (free trial)
The final round of the Masters 2025 begins about 10 a.m. Sunday. Streaming coverage begins at 10:15 a.m. at Masters.com and the Masters app with Paramount+ starting coverage at noon. CBS will begin its coverage at 2 p.m. with streaming available on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
Watch the Masters live on Fubo (free trial)
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