Tag: Alejandro Tosti

PGA Championship playoff: History, aggregate format, holes used, rules if it’s tied at end of regulation

There have been 13 playoffs in PGA Championship history, with five of those using the three-hole aggregate format.

The 2024 PGA Championship had 15 players within five shots of the lead to start the final round.

That had all the makings of a potential playoff at Valhalla Golf Club.

The PGA Championship is unique in that it uses a three-hole aggregate playoff format.

The last time they needed extra holes to settle a PGA was in 2022 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

There have been 13 playoffs in PGA Championship history, with five of those using the current three-hole aggregate format. The first time that format was used was in 2000, the year of the epic Tiger Woods-Bob May playoff thriller.

The winner of the 2024 PGA will bank a tournament-record $3.3 million from a total prize pool of $18.5 million, also a tournament record.

Here’s what to know if there’s a tie after 72 holes of stroke play.

What is the PGA Championship playoff format?

If two or more players are tied after four rounds, there will be a three-hole aggregate playoff. Whoever has the lowest combined score over the three holes is the champion.

What if it’s still tied after the three holes?

There would then be a sudden-death, hole-by-hole playoff starting on No. 18, then continuing as needed to No. 13, No. 17 and No. 18 repeated.

Which holes are used?

According to the PGA of America, the three-hole aggregate playoff in 2024 will be contested on Nos. 13, 17 and 18. No. 13 is called “The Limestone Hole,” a 349-yard par 4, the shortest par 4 at Valhalla but one that features an island green. No. 17 is called “Straight Up” and is a 477-yard par 4. The 18th hole, dubbed “Photo Finish,” is a par 5 that measures 573 yards. Those yardages are the official Sunday numbers according to the PGA of America.

106th PGA: Leaderboard | How to watch | Money | Sunday photos

Who tees off first in aggregate playoff?

The playoff participants will draw numbers to determine who tees off first.

PGA Championship playoff history

The have been 13 times in all since the PGA switched to a stroke-play tournament in 1958 that a playoff was needed:

  • 2022: Justin Thomas over Will Zalatoris
  • 2011: Keegan Bradley over Jason Dufner
  • 2010: Martin Kaymer over Bubba Watson
  • 2004: Vijay Singh over Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard
  • 2000: Tiger Woods over Bob May
  • 1996: Mark Brooks over Kenny Perry
  • 1993: Paul Azinger over Greg Norman
  • 1987: Larry Nelson over Lanny Wadkins
  • 1979: David Graham over Ben Crenshaw
  • 1978: John Mahaffey over Jerry Pate and Tom Watson
  • 1977: Lanny Wadkins over Gene Littler
  • 1967: Don January over Don Massengale
  • 1961: Jerry Barber or Don January

PGA Championship aggregate playoff history

The current three-hole aggregate format has been deployed five times:

  • 2022: Justin Thomas over Will Zalatoris
  • 2011: Keegan Bradley over Jason Dufner
  • 2010: Martin Kaymer over Bubba Watson
  • 2004: Vijay Singh over Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard
  • 2000: Tiger Woods over Bob May

Do the other golf majors have the same playoff format?

No. The British Open has a four-hole aggregate playoff. The Masters’ structure is a stroke-play sudden death alternating between the No. 18 and No. 10 holes. The U.S. Open has had a two-hole aggregate playoff since 2018.

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Alejandro Tosti drives par-4 13th island green, makes eagle at 2024 PGA Championship

One of the PGA Tour’s next great characters put on quite the show on Sunday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Alejandro Tosti, let me, as the kids say, drop some knowledge on you.

The 27-year-old from Rosario, Argentina – the same town as soccer legend and current Inter Miami star Leo Messi – is in his first full season on the PGA Tour and is already making a name for himself as one of the next great characters on the tour due to his antics and personality.

During Sunday’s final round of the 2024 PGA Championship, his skill and confidence were on full display on Valhalla Golf Club’s par-4 13th hole. Known as The Limestone Hole, the 13th plays to 351 yards (the shortest par-4 on the course) and features an island green that’s built up at a 20-foot elevation and lined by, you guessed it, limestone boulders.

Most players lay up with an iron off the tee and then flip in a wedge onto the putting surface to set up a birdie chance. Tosti, however, was feeling on the back nine, pulled his driver from the bag and hit a near-perfect shot to 7 feet to set up one of the most impressive eagles of the week.

Tosti was in position to contend for a potential top 10 finish at the second men’s major championship of the season after opening rounds of 68-69 to reach 5 under for the tournament. On Saturday, however, he struggled to the tune of a 8-over 79 that featured four double bogeys.

106th PGA: Leaderboard | How to watch | Money | Sunday photos

In 13 events this season, Tosti has made six cuts, missed seven, and has just one top-25 finish, his T-2 showing at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

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Stephan Jaeger holds off Scottie Scheffler, wins first PGA Tour title at 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

“To kind of slay the dragon a little bit this week was amazing.”

Stephan Jaeger spoke for nearly a minute about how impressive Scottie Scheffler’s recent run of play has been.

The 34-year-old German finished his play Friday during the second round of the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, and while speaking with the media, he had plenty of positive things to say about the world No. 1.

Little did he know at the time, he would spend the next two days going toe-to-toe against him. It’s exactly what he wanted.

“Honestly, it’s fun to watch, right,” Jaeger said of Scheffler’s play. “It’s unorthodox in a sense and it’s … ball-striking-wise it’s really, really, really impressive what he’s doing week in, week out. To be that on, and your bad stuff be that good, is pretty impressive. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, he’s awesome, so I’m happy for him obviously.

“I’m going to try to beat his brains out this weekend.”

Jaeger could only sit and watch as Scheffler had a 5-foot putt to tie Jaeger on the 72nd hole Sunday. Scheffler missed, his first blemish from inside 7 feet on the greens all weekend.

Jaeger called his shot. He held off the world No. 1, carding nine straight pars on the back nine at Memorial Park Golf Course to capture his first PGA Tour title in his 135th start. Jaeger shot 12-under 268, finishing a shot ahead of Scheffler and defending champion Tony Finau, amongst others.

“It feels amazing,” Jaeger said. “I couldn’t have thought … dreamed up a better week to do it. Obviously playing Scottie last couple days, he’s been on a tear, so to kind of slay the dragon a little bit this week was amazing. He’s such a good dude, such a good player, I was just happy to play with him a couple days.”

On top of the victory, the win gives Jaeger a huge advantage to earning his spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He will also take home $1,638,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points, but perhaps bigger than both of those is his invitation to compete in the Masters in two weeks.

For Scheffler, his putting performance on the 18th green this week was arguably the difference in him winning his third straight start. On Friday, Scheffler three-putted from 7 feet, where on the second putt he tried to quickly tap in from a couple of feet and the putt slipped past the hole, resulting in a double bogey.

Then on Sunday, he missed the birdie attempt that would’ve forced a playoff. 

“I didn’t think it was going to move very much and I tried to hit it straight and I feel like I started right in the middle and looked like it broke off pretty hard, so just a misread,” Scheffler said. “I put up a good fight, felt like I had some weird breaks this week. That’s kind of the thing, like it’s tough to describe, but obviously I’m a bit disappointed. I hit two or three really good shots into 18 to give myself a chance and I feel like I made the putt and I looked up and it was breaking off. So a bit disappointing, but Stephan played great this week, and he’s a deserving champion.”

Added Jaeger on Scheffler’s put: “Yeah, 100 percent. I expected him to make it, and I’m not mad at him for missing it.”

Scheffler’s next start will be at Augusta National, where he donned the green jacket in 2022.

Also finishing a shot back, Finau was the best in the field around the greens this week but one of the worst on them. Outside of his round Friday where he tied the tournament scoring record, he lost nearly 7.5 strokes on the greens the other three rounds but still managed a strong finish.

“Didn’t make a crucial putt when I really needed it,” Finau said. “That’s the game we play. But I was happy to finish with really solid shots down the last couple holes and just to birdie the last couple.”

Also finishing runner-up were Alejandro Tosti, Taylor Moore and Thomas Detry. Tosti was tied for the lead on the 18th hole, but a poor tee shot resulted in a bogey.

“I’m super happy. I dream about this, having this opportunity like today,” Tosti said. “It was of course the first one and I know that I’m going to have revenge and I’m going to be in this position many times.”

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Alejandro Tosti forced to WD from Korn Ferry Tour event

A Korn Ferry Tour release reported Tosti’s forced withdrawal was due to a disciplinary matter.

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Alejandro Tosti, who entered this week’s Albertson’s Boise Open fourth on the Korn Ferry Tour points list, was forced to withdraw after the first round.

A Korn Ferry Tour release reported Tosti’s forced withdrawal was due to a disciplinary matter. The details of the issue and any related disciplinary action will be handled internally, the release said.

The 27-year-old, who went to college at Florida, has a win and eight top-10 finishes this season on the Korn Ferry Tour. Because of his position in the standings, he has earned enough points to secure his PGA Tour card for the 2024 season.

Tosti opened with a 4-under 67 on Thursday at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho.

Joshua Creel shoots a 61, Alejandro Tosti leads Korn Ferry Tour’s 2023 Visit Knoxville Open

Joshua Creel had eight birdies in his first 12 holes Friday.

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Joshua Creel fired a 9-under 61 on Friday to fly up the leaderboard at the Korn Ferry Tour’s 2023 Visit Knoxville Open.

Creel was out in the early wave at Holston Hills Country Club and had eight birdies in his first 12 holes. Five straight pars cooled him off but a closing birdie got him to 9 under, one day after shooting an even par round.

After his career-low and course-record tying round, he was asked what was going through his mind after posting a 29 on the front nine.

“Fifty-nine, yeah. Par 70, turn 29, you’re thinking 59 for sure,” Creel said, adding that he thought a sub-60 round was oh-so-close.

“I lipped out putts on 14, 15 and 16, so that’s 61, could have been a couple better,” he said.

Creel’s red-hot Friday has him within a shot of the lead, held by Alejandro Tosti, the first-round co-leader.

Tosti is seeking his first professional win and knows there’s a lot of work ahead with 36 holes still to play this weekend. But he likes where he’s at.

“Just being in the fight for the tournament. I’ve been playing really good and I feel like I’ve been knocking on the door but not having a good result, so whatever is meant to happen will happen,” he said after rounds of 63 and 67. “I know there are not many guys playing better than me at this time, so I’m very happy with the opportunity.”

Tosti’s Argentinian countryman Jorge Fernandez Valdes is also at 9 under after shooting a 64 on Friday. Jacob Solomon and Matt McCarty are tied for fourth at 8 under. The other first-round co-leader, Nelson Ledesma, shot a 70 Friday to slide back into a tie for sixth.

Camilo Villegas is in the field and he’s tied for 10th (67-67).

Nelson Ledesma, Alejandro Tosti lead contingent from Argentina at Korn Ferry Tour’s 2023 Visit Knoxville Open

They are four of the nine golfers from Argentina in the field this week at Holston Hills Country Club.

Nelson Ledesma and Alejandro Tosti are the co-leaders after one round at the Korn Ferry Tour’s 2023 Visit Knoxville Open.

Fellow Argentinian Augusto Nunez is tied for sixth. and tied for 20th is another golfer from the South American country, Jorge Fernandez Valdes. They are four of the nine golfers from Argentina in the field this week at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Ledesma in particular said he feels comfortable on the course with its familiar feel.

“I like the course, a typical course that we play in Argentina with some
trees. I really like the greens, the greens are nice. We are okay,” he said after a bogey-free round where he nabbed three birdies on the front and four more on the back for a 63.

Tosti, a rookie this season, also shot a 7-under 63 but his scorecard was a bit more interesting, as he had a double bogey, two bogeys but countered that and more with 11 birdies, including three straight to close his round.

“Eleven in one day was like ‘wow’, one after the other after the other,” he said. “Then I had a couple bad breaks where I made a double, but I again fought back and yeah, it’s like just everything was hitting the ball great. I mean, the best in many years, putting the best in many years, so everything is kind of coming together.”

A shot back at 6 under is Rico Hoey and David Kocher.

Last week’s winner Grayson Murray shot a first-round 73.

It’s the 11th tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour’s 2023 schedule. The Visit Knoxville event is one of the legacy events: it’s one of four on the circuit’s schedule every year since the tour started in 1990. It’s the third year the event is at Holston Hills.