The Longest Sudden Death Playoffs in Professional Golf
11 holes
1949 – Motor City Open at Meadowbrook CC, Michigan (PGA Tour): Carey Middlecoff and Lloyd Mangrum were still tied after 11 holes and darkness was descending. By mutual agreement between the players and the tournament officials, they were declared co-winners of the tournament.
10 holes
1972 – Corpus Christi Civitan Open, Pharaoh’s CC, Texas (LPGA Tour): ten holes of sudden death were needed for Jo Ann Prentice to defeat Kathy Whitworth and Sandra Palmer.
9 holes
1989 – KLM Dutch Open, Kennemer G&CC, Netherlansds (European Tour): playing a loop of the 16th, 17th and 18th holes, José María Olazábal finally beat Ronan Rafferty after nine holes, the pair having eliminated Roger Chapman at the first extra hole. The weather was so bad, with strong winds and rain, that for the nine holes of the playoff, which ended around 8.30pm, Olazábal had shot 40 against a par of 33 for the extra holes.
8 holes
1965 – Azalea Open (PGA Tour): Dick Hart beat Phil Rodgers
1978 – Greater Milwaukee Open (PGA Tour): Lee Elder beat Lee Trevino
1981 – Quad Cities Open (PGA Tour): Dave Barr beat Woody Blackburn, Dan Halldorson, Frank Conner and Victor Regalado
1983 – Phoenix Open (PGA Tour): Bob Gilder beat Rex Caldwell, Johnny Miller and Mark O’Meara
2012 – Mayakoba Golf Classic (PGA Tour): John Huh beat Robert Allenby
7 holes
2001 – WGC-NEC Invitational: Tiger Woods beat Stewart Cink
March 2012
