The 15 Greatest Playoffs in Golf History

The greatest playoffs in golf history feature legends, underdogs, and first-time winners, moments that will live forever in video vaults and iconic photos. From major championship triumphs to marathon PGA TOUR events, here are the Top 15 greatest playoffs in golf history:

1. 1913 U.S. Open: Ouimet vs. Vardon and Ray

One of the greatest underdog stories in sports history, amateur Francis Ouimet (-1) took down Harry Vardon (+4) and Ted Ray (+5) in an 18-hole Monday playoff to win the 1913 U.S. Open. Ouimet, an American, became the first, and only, amateur to win the U.S. Open and in beating top English golfers in Vardon and Ray catapulted the sport to a new height of popularity in America. The win is depicted in the 2005 Disney movie, the Greatest Game Ever Played.

2. 2008 U.S. Open: Woods vs. Mediate

You couldn’t write a better story for the 2008 U.S Open. Playing on a fractured leg and torn ACL, 32 year-old Tiger Woods (E) went head-to-head with 45-year-old veteran Rocco Mediate (+1). Looking for his first major, Mediate had the clubhouse lead at 1-under when he watched Woods sink a 12-foot birdie putt to send the championship to an 18-hole Monday playoff. The two needed 19 holes, as Woods’ par bested Mediate’s bogey giving Woods his 14th major title.

3. 1987 Masters: Mize vs. Norman and Ballesteros

The 1987 Masters provided another iconic image in golf history as Larry Mize’s chip in birdie on the second playoff hole sent him running with his hands in the air in disbelief. Perhaps no one was more stunned than Greg Norman, who was not able to answer with a long birdie putt. It was the first major win for Mize, an Augusta, Georgia, native, and the latest crushing defeat for Norman at a major championship.

4. 2000 PGA Championship: Woods vs. May

At the 2000 PGA Championship, it was Tiger vs. the field as the 24-year-old was looking for his third straight major title and fifth overall. Much like his 2008 U.S Open win over Rocco Mediate, Woods had to fend off another underdog in Bob May at Valhalla. May had never won on the PGA Tour, but went toe-to-toe with Woods firing a final round 66 to force a three-hole playoff. On the first playoff hole, Woods walked in a 25-foot putt to take the lead and hang on to beat May by one shot. The putt and point celebration is another iconic Tiger moment and secured the third leg of the Tiger Slam.

5. 1950 U.S. Open: Hogan vs. Mangrum and Fazio

In 1949, a car accident nearly killed three-time major winner Ben Hogan. Doctors thought he may never walk, let alone play golf again. But, Hogan returned to play and did the unthinkable, defeating Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio in an 18-hole Monday playoff to win the 1950 U.S Open. During the final round, on the difficult 18th hole, Hogan hit a 1-iron to 40 feet and would two-putt to get into the playoff. The photograph of Hogan’s shot is viewed by many as the most famous image in golf history.

6. 1923 US Open: Jones vs. Cruickshank

Leading by four shots with two holes to play, amateur golf legend Bobby Jones finished with a bogey and double bogey to end in a tie with Bobby Cruickshank. The two would head to a Monday 18-hole playoff where both players were tied heading to the 18th hole. Jones, parred the 18th, while Cruickshank double bogeyed securing Jones’ first of four U.S. Open wins.

7. 1991 U.S. Open: Stewart vs. Simpson

Payne Stewart held the lead at the 1991 U.S. Open for the first three rounds, but 1987 champ Scott Simpson tracked him down in the final round. Simpson led Stewart by one shot heading to the 18th hole, but bogeyed to Stewart’s par. In the 18-hole Monday playoff, Stewart outlasted Simpson shooting 1-under over the final three holes, while Simpson faltered, bogeying the last three and losing by two shots.

8. 2005 Masters: Woods vs. DiMarco

Another iconic Tiger Woods moment came during the final round of the 2005 Masters. Woods, in the middle of a nearly three-year major drought, dueled with Chris DiMarco the entire day. With a one-shot lead on the par-3 16th hole, Woods’ tee shot went left of the green, while DiMarco was comfortably in the center of the green. From an improbable angle, Woods’ chip from off the green trickled into the hole sending the crowd into a frenzy and catapulting him to a 1-hole sudden death playoff victory over DiMarco.

9. 1955 U.S. Open: Fleck vs. Hogan

After Francis Ouimet’s 1913 U.S. Open triumph, Jack Fleck’s playoff win over Ben Hogan may be the second greatest upset in golf history. Fleck, a municipal golf pro from Iowa, had just decided to pursue golf on the PGA Tour full time before the 1955 U.S. Open. Fleck trailed by nine shots after the first round but came back to tie Hogan and would later beat his golf idol by three shots in a Monday playoff.

10. 2012 Masters: Watson vs. Oosthuizen

The 2012 Masters will forever be remembered for Bubba Watson’s miraculous shot on the second playoff hole. Both Watson and Louis Oosthuizen hit poor drives to the right on the par-4 10th hole. Oosthuizen’s second shot landed short of the green, while Watson slung his second shot nearly 90 degrees from the woods to 10 feet from the pin. Watson would two-putt for par and win his first of two Masters titles.

11. 2013 Masters: Scott vs. Cabrera

Adam Scott’s dramatic sudden death playoff win over Angel Cabrera at the 2013 Masters was historic. It was the first major win for Scott, but also the first for an Australian at the Masters. After the win, Scott paid tribute to Greg Norman, who had several heartbreaks at Augusta, saying Norman inspired a nation of golfers.

12. 2009 Open Championship: Cink vs. Watson

Stewart Cink’s 2009 Open Championship win in a four-hole playoff over Tom Watson was the only major championship of his career. But, the championship may be remembered more for Tom Watson’s agonizing defeat as he was looking to become the oldest major champion in history at 59.

13. 1949 Motor City Open: Middlecoff vs. Mangrum

The 1949 Motor City Open saw Cary Middlecoff and Lloyd Mangrum duel in the longest playoff in PGA Tour history. The two battled for 11 holes before the tournament was stopped due to darkness. After discussion with the two golfers, the tournament declared Middlecoff and Mangrum joint winners.

14. 2001 NEC Invitational: Woods vs. Furyk

At the 2001 NEC Invitational, Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk traded big shot after big shot during their 7-hole playoff. On the first playoff hole, Furyk’s third shot from a green-side bunker failed to clear the lip. While Woods was on the green in two, Furyk needed to hole out his fourth shot from the bunker to give himself a chance. And that he did, curling the bunker shot to extend the playoff. But, Woods, the No. 1 golfer in the world, would be too much, beating Furyk on the seventh playoff hole.

15. 2011 TOUR Championship: Haas vs. Mahan

It’s a shot from a lie you’ve probably seen in blooper reels, but for Bill Haas it was a $10 million dollar winner. In a playoff against Hunter Mahan, Haas’ second shot on the par-4 17th hole bounced over the green, down the hill, and came to rest on the shore of a lake. Haas played an explosive shot to three feet and tapped in for par. He would beat Mahan on the third hole to win the FedEx Cup and the $10 million bonus that came with it.