PGA Championship Playoff Format and Complete History of Playoffs

Playoff Format
In the event of a tie for first place after 72 holes, a three-hole aggregate score playoff will be contested on holes 10, 17 and 18. If players remain tied after those three holes, there will be a sudden-death playoff on hole 18, repeated as necessary.

A History of PGA Championship Playoffs
The PGA Championship has used three different playoff formats over its history: an 18-hole stroke play playoff (1958–1976), sudden death (1977–1999), and the current three-hole aggregate format (2000–present).

18-Hole Stroke Play Playoff Era

1961: Olympia Fields Country Club — Jerry Barber defeated Don January in an 18-hole playoff.

1967: Columbine Country Club — Don January defeated Don Massengale (69 to 71) in an 18-hole playoff.

1977: PGA Championship Adopts Sudden-Death Format

Sudden-Death Playoff Era

1977: Pebble Beach Golf Links — Lanny Wadkins (Par-Birdie-Par) defeated Gene Littler (Par-Birdie-Bogey) on the third hole of sudden death.

1978: Oakmont Country Club — John Mahaffey (Par-Birdie) defeated Tom Watson (Par-Par) and Jerry Pate (Par-Par) on the second hole of sudden death.

1979: Oakland Hills — David Graham (Par-Birdie-Birdie) defeated Ben Crenshaw (Par-Birdie-Bogey) on the third hole of sudden death.

1987: PGA National — Larry Nelson (Par) defeated Lanny Wadkins (Bogey) on the first hole of sudden death.

1993: Inverness Club — Paul Azinger (Par-Par) defeated Greg Norman (Par-Bogey) on the second hole of sudden death.

1995: Riviera Country Club — Steve Elkington (Birdie) defeated Colin Montgomerie (Par) on the first hole of sudden death.

1996: Valhalla Golf Club — Mark Brooks (Birdie) defeated Kenny Perry (Bogey) on the first hole of sudden death.

2000 - NOW: PGA Championship Adopts Three-Hole Aggregate Score Format

Three-Hole Aggregate Playoff Era

2000: Valhalla Golf Club — Tiger Woods (Birdie-3, Par-4, Par-5; 12 total shots) defeated Bob May (Par-4, Par-4, Par-5; 13 total shots).

2004: Whistling Straits — Vijay Singh (Birdie-3, Par-3, Par-4; 10 total shots) defeated Justin Leonard (Par-4, Par-3, Par-4; 11 total shots) and Chris DiMarco (Par-4, Par-3, Par-4; 11 total shots).

2010: Whistling Straits — Martin Kaymer (Par-4, Birdie-2, Bogey-5; 11 total shots) defeated Bubba Watson (Birdie-3, Par-3, Double Bogey-6; 12 total shots).

2011: Atlanta Athletic Club — Keegan Bradley (Birdie-3, Par-3, Par-4; 10 total shots) defeated Jason Dufner (Par-4, Bogey-4, Birdie-3; 11 total shots).

2022: Southern Hills Country Club — Justin Thomas (Birdie-4, Birdie-3, Par-4; 11 total shots) defeated Will Zalatoris (Birdie-4, Par-4, Par-4; 12 total shots).