How About A Nine Hole Playoff? Happened Yesterday

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 31, 2009 3:35 PM EDT

As Steve Stricker and Heath Slocum were rolling down 18 fairway at Liberty National to hit their bunker shots to the green, the wonder began about a magical five way playoff for The Barclays title. The record for the most participants in a playoff on the PGA Tour is six - set for a 72 hole event at the 2001 Nissan Open at Riviera.

But, while we were wondering about that, the Nationwide Tour saw its longest playoff ever. At the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic, Gary Christian and Mathias Gronberg went nine extra holes to settle the tournament. Christian won his first N'Wide Tour title with a par on the ninth playoff hole.

As PGATour.com notes, that's tied for the longest extra session in Nationwide Tour history. The precursor to this nine hole affair dates back to 1998's duel between Notah Begay III and Eric Booker.

In case you're curious about the longest sudden death playoff in PGA Tour history, it was 11 holes between Cary Middlecoff and Lloyd Mangrum at the 1949 Motor City Open.

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That long playoff was between two men who were underappreciated not only in their own time – but by history as well.

Middlecoff had 41 professional wins, Mangrum 36, with four majors between them: Middlecoff with three, a Masters and two US Opens, and Mangrum with one US Open title.

“These guys are good” applied back then as well.

by Charles Boyer on Aug 31, 2009 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

Actually

The Motor City playoff should come with an asterisk next to it. It’s the longest sudden death playoff not to finish in sudden death. After 11 holes it was declared a tie.

WIthout doublechecking the record books, I think the longest finished sudden death playoff was the 1978 Milwaukee Open which went 8 holes and saw Lee Elder come out on top over Lee Trevino.

by Bill Jempty on Sep 1, 2009 8:16 AM EDT reply actions

The About.com piece has a four way tie at 8 holes:
    * 1965 Azalea Open: Dick Hart def. Phil Rodgers
    * 1978 Greater Milwaukee Open: Lee Elder def. Lee Trevino
    * 1981 Quad Cities Open: Dave Barr def. Woody Blackburn, Dan Halldorson, Frank Conner, Victor Regalado
    * 1983 Phoenix Open: Bob Gilder def. Rex Caldwell, Johnny Miller, Mark O’Meara

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Sep 1, 2009 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions