Sudden-death playoffs have been a common theme in the 2025 season, much to the delight of golf fans.
The theme was only just evident at the DP World Tour Championship, where Matt Fitzpatrick took on his Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy.
Fitzpatrick beat McIlroy after one playoff hole in Dubai, with the Northern Irishman alone accounting for much of the playoff drama this season.
He defeated Justin Rose in that format to win The Masters, having done the same to J.J. Spaun in The Players Championship on the PGA Tour.
There was a dramatic five-hole playoff on the LPGA Tour in Shanghai just last month, while LIV Golf’s Team Championship was also decided via that format in August.
The longest sudden-death playoff in PGA Tour history was stopped after 11 holes
This year’s drama has, however, fallen short of that of the 1949 Motor City Open, an event on the PGA Tour.
The tournament went to a playoff, where Lloyd Mangrum and Cary Middlecoff went head-to-head for the title.
But after a very lengthy battle that remarkably lasted 11 holes, they were declared co-winners by mutual agreement due to darkness.
READ MORE: He is the youngest ever winner on the PGA Tour after triumphing at just 18 years old
The longest sudden-death playoffs in PGA Tour history
The 11 holes of the 1949 Motor City Open have yet to be surpassed on the PGA Tour, but plenty of events have come close.
Most recently, Harris English overcame Kramer Hickok in an eight-hole playoff at the 2021 Travelers Championship.
| Holes | Tournament | Result |
| 11 | 1949 Motor City Open | Lloyd Mangrum and Cary Middlecoff declared co-winners by mutual agreement due to darkness |
| 8 | 2021 Travelers Championship | Harris English def. Kramer Hickok |
| 8 | 2012 World Wide Technology Championship | John Huh def. Robert Allenby |
| 8 | 1983 WM Phoenix Open | Bob Gilder def. Rex Caldwell, Johnny Miller and Mark O’Meara |
| 8 | 1981 John Deere Classic | Dave Barr def. Woody Blackburn, Frank Conner, Dan Halldorson and Victor Regalado |
| 8 | 1978 Greater Milwaukee Open | Lee Elder def. Lee Trevino |
| 8 | 1965 Azalea Open Invitational | Dick Hart def. Phil Rodgers |
Golf fans were unfortunately denied drama of a similar kind at the DP World Tour’s closing event in Dubai, when McIlroy took on Fitzpatrick after both finished on 18-under.
A stacked playoff was on the cards right until the death, with Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Aberg, Laurie Canter and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen all ending on 17-under.
Such was their anticipation for a potential chance at success, Fleetwood, Aberg and Canter were all staying warm on the practice range until Fitzpatrick brought an abrupt end to proceedings.
But McIlroy stayed in the fight thanks to a stunning eagle finish at Jumeirah Golf Estates, only to quickly lose out on his 18th hole battle with the eventual champion.
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