What is the Masters playoff format in 2026? Rules, holes to be played

The Masters will have some drama on Sunday, after Rory McIlroy's blown lead led to a crowded leaderboard heading into the fourth round at Augusta.

Will McIlroy recover? Will Cameron Young win his first major? Or will someone else come up and grab the green jacket? This tournament may very well come down to the final few holes, if not a playoff, which would be the first at Augusta since... last year.

If it does come to a playoff, you'll want to know the Masters playoff format, which is a sudden-death playoff like other PGA events. Here's all you need to know.

What is the Masters playoff format and what are the rules?

The playoff begins on the 18th hole. The player to win that hole wins the tournament. If things remain undecided after the 18th, players move to the 10th hole and decide things there.

If the match is still tied after the 10th, players go back to the 18th hole and repeat that until a winner is decided. It's worth noting: No Masters playoff has made it past a second hole since the sudden-death format was implemented in 1976.

And that's it. That's all you need to know.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Masters playoff format and rules in 2026: Which holes will be played?