Earlier today Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland squared off in a sudden death playoff to see who is the Travelers Champion. With Hovland and Scheffler both looking at makable birdie putts there was air that this could go some distance. Unfortunately, Hovland drained his and Scottie two putted, how dare he? I love a playoff and was hoping it would go on forever. It didn’t so I decided to search the greatest playoffs in the history of golf. Here they are:
1. 1913 U.S. Open (The Country Club, Brookline) Francis Ouimet def. Harry Vardon and Ted Ray
If you love golf movies or golf history you know this story. Widely considered the greatest match ever played. The 20 year old amateur Francis Ouimet took down Two British legends who had both won the U.S. Open in the past. After 72 holes the three were even ,and at the time the Playoff was a full 18 the next day. Through rainy conditions, the heavy underdog and his 10 year-old caddy finished one under with a firm 5 stroke lead. The match was an amazing story that catapulted golfs popularity in America. Amateurs everywhere owe Ouimet a debt of Gratitude.
2. 2000 PGA Championship (Valhalla) Tiger Woods def. Bob May
3. 2008 U.S. Open (Torrey Pines) Tiger Woods def. Rocco Mediate
Woods played on a torn ACL and stress fractures, forcing an 18-hole playoff with a dramatic birdie on the 72nd hole, then winning on the first sudden-death hole. It epitomizes resilience and is often called one of the most compelling major finishes ever, blending physical drama with elite competition.
4. 1987 Masters Larry Mize def. Greg Norman (and Seve Ballesteros)
5. 1950 U.S. Open (Merion) Ben Hogan def. Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio
Final Thoughts:
Now there’s a lot we missed that maybe could of made it. But we chose these five based on the history, who was involved and what the event was. Obviously majors take precedent. We would love to hear what your favorite playoffs are, sound off in the insta comments
U.S. Women’s Open
The women’s golf was awesome yesterday.
The leaderboard was tight from the start of play on Sunday, with seven players just two strokes off the lead, and Charley Hull, one of the LPGA’s biggest stars, just three strokes back.
Charley got off to a blistering start and charged into the lead in the middle of the round before making a bogey on the 14th.
Her miss dropped her to -6 and left Gabby Lopez, In Gee Chun, S.Y. Kim, and Nelly Korda all tied for the lead at 7-under.
Hull was able to bounce back with a birdie on the 17th and grab a share of the lead. Gabby Lopez birdied the 18th, and they both went into the clubhouse to watch Nelly Korda finish.
They watched on TV while Nelly Korda made birdie on the 17th hole to take a one-stroke lead. On the final hole, Korda hit a perfect tee shot, followed by a safe approach shot into the middle of the 18th green.
She two-putted for par and won the U.S. Women’s Open by a stroke, but we were this close to a three-way playoff:
The putt that won it all (and stopped our hearts 🫠) pic.twitter.com/VQynQ3nbUZ
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 8, 2026
The Memorial Tournament
We didn’t get a playoff at Riviera, but we did get one at Jack’s place.
The Memorial Tournament also featured a jam-packed leaderboard on Sunday.
At one point, there was a five-way tie on the back nine at 11-under.
That group was Wyndham Clark, Tommy Fleetwood, Sam Burns, Ryan Gerard, and JT Poston.
By the time the dust settled, it was Poston and Gerard who were the last two men standing. Gerard almost won it in regulation, but JT Poston made a clutch birdie on the 72nd hole to send it to a playoff.
They played the 18th, both made par, so they played it again.
This time, Gerard would bogey, leaving JT Poston an easy par putt to seal it.
With his victory, JT collected a $4 million check, along with spots in the U.S. Open and The Open this year.
He also gets to avoid playing in Golf’s Longest Day today.
What’s Next?
The RBC Canadian Open.
Odds: RBC Canadian Open
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tommy Fleetwood | +1150 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | +1175 |
| Sam Burns | +1300 |
| Collin Morikawa | +2250 |
| Robert MacIntyre | +2400 |
| Wyndham Clark | +2500 |
| Justin Rose | +2700 |
| Brooks Koepka | +2800 |
| Nicolai Hojgaard | +2900 |
| Viktor Hovland | +2900 |