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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A playoff at the WM Phoenix Open is not out of the ordinary. There have been 12 playoffs since the tournament moved to TPC Scottsdale in 1987. That means there has been bonus golf on the Stadium Course on average every 3 years or so.
Playoffs have been more frequent lately, with four in the last 7 years. And, there's been a pattern to the last four, with one playoff every other year in an even-numbered year:
The 2016 Open had a playoff, as well. In fact, there were three playoffs in a row from 2016 to 2018.
Hideki Matsuyama, the 2026 tournament's third-round leader, has won the WM Phoenix Open twice, in 2016 and 2017. What's more is that he won each of those in a playoff that lasted four holes.
Will there be overtime golf in 2026 to keep that theme going? Well, through 54 holes, there were nine players within two shots of the lead, 15 golfers within four and 21 golfers within six with 18 holes to go.
Like other PGA Tour events, a playoff at TPC Scottsdale would use the sudden-death format. All golfers in overtime would play the 18th hole until there's one man left. Tournament officials will also change the location of the hole after the second playoff hole.
CBS has the golf coverage, while NBC has the Big Game. The WM Phoenix Open live TV coverage is scheduled to go until 6 p.m. ET (4 p.m. Arizona time). The Super Bowl kickoff about 6:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. Arizona time) so that gives a potential playoff about 30 minutes to wrap up.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: WM Phoenix Open has had 12 playoffs since moving to TPC Scottsdale
Continue reading...
Playoffs have been more frequent lately, with four in the last 7 years. And, there's been a pattern to the last four, with one playoff every other year in an even-numbered year:
- 2024: Nick Taylor def. Charley Hoffman, 2 holes
- 2022: Scottie Scheffler def. Patrick Cantlay, 3 holes
- 2020: Webb Simpson def. Tony Finau, 1 hole
- 2018: Gary Woodland def. Chez Reavie, 1 hole
The 2016 Open had a playoff, as well. In fact, there were three playoffs in a row from 2016 to 2018.
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Hideki Matsuyama, the 2026 tournament's third-round leader, has won the WM Phoenix Open twice, in 2016 and 2017. What's more is that he won each of those in a playoff that lasted four holes.
Will there be overtime golf in 2026 to keep that theme going? Well, through 54 holes, there were nine players within two shots of the lead, 15 golfers within four and 21 golfers within six with 18 holes to go.
What happens if there is a playoff at the WM Phoenix Open?
Like other PGA Tour events, a playoff at TPC Scottsdale would use the sudden-death format. All golfers in overtime would play the 18th hole until there's one man left. Tournament officials will also change the location of the hole after the second playoff hole.
Would a WM Phoenix Open playoff end before the Super Bowl kicks off?
CBS has the golf coverage, while NBC has the Big Game. The WM Phoenix Open live TV coverage is scheduled to go until 6 p.m. ET (4 p.m. Arizona time). The Super Bowl kickoff about 6:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. Arizona time) so that gives a potential playoff about 30 minutes to wrap up.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: WM Phoenix Open has had 12 playoffs since moving to TPC Scottsdale
Continue reading...
