1 for all, all for 1

The PGA of America avoids unfair advantages by ensuring all tied players compete in a single group during playoffs, unlike past formats that split players into smaller pairings.

With the 108th PGA Championship in the archives, the Forecaddie wanted to shed some light on an interesting policy the PGA of America would have implemented had there been a playoff: It would not have broken up the grouping, no matter how large the number of players.

The playoff system is different for each of the four majors.

The Masters used to be an 18-hole playoff, but now is sudden death — has never gone beyond the 11th hole since the change.

The U.S. Open also used to be an 18-hole playoff. If tied after the first 18 holes, there would be another 18 holes before moving to sudden death. In 2018, the USGA changed its playoff format to a two-hole aggregate, with sudden death if still tied.

The Open Championship started with a 36-hole format, then an 18-hole playoff, but now, depending on the golf course, the playoff is either a three- or four-hole aggregate.

The PGA of America made sure there was no cloud over its playoff format — had there been one. {Fran Caffrey / Golffile)

The PGA of America uses a three-hole aggregate system, followed by a sudden-death playoff.