What Happens When Golfers Tie for Second?

Ever watched the final round of a professional golf tournament and seen that crowded leaderboard? The winner is clear, but below them, a logjam of players are all tied for second. It’s a common sight, and it always brings up the question: what happens now? While the champion heads to a playoff if needed, the players in second place simply share the honor. This article breaks down exactly how ties for second (and other positions) are handled, from the life-changing payouts on the PGA Tour to the prizes at your local club championship.

Why a Tie For Second Isn't Decided by a Playoff

The first thing to understand is that playoffs in professional golf are almost exclusively used for one reason: to determine a single, undisputed winner of the tournament. The entire broadcast, the narrative of the week, and the legacy of the event build toward crowning one champion. A playoff for first place is the ultimate climax - a high-stakes, dramatic showdown for the trophy.

Imagine the alternative. If four players were tied for second, organizers would have to stage a mini-tournament just to sort out the runner-up spots. Logistically, this would be a nightmare. It would dilute the focus on the actual winner, extend the television broadcast for hours, and tire out players who have already given their all for four grueling days. The tour's an the TV network's goal is to find a champion and wrap up the event in a clean, exciting fashion. For every position other than first, the math is much simpler and more efficient.

The Professional Tours: Counting the Money and the Points

When golfers on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, or DP World Tour tie, their fate is decided by some straightforward arithmetic. There’s no playoff, instead, a method sometimes called "dead heat" rules are applied to both the prize money and the ranking points up for grabs.

Step-by-Step: The Payout Calculation

At the heart of any tie is a simple "add and divide" method. It ensures that every player in a tie receives an equal share of the combined purse for the positions they occupy. Here’s how it works:

1. Identify the tying players and their position. This is the group of golfers who finished with the same score, like the three players tied for second (T2).
2. Look at the prize money for the spots they occupy. If three players tie for second, they collectively hold the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place positions on the leaderboard. So, you would gather the prize money designated for each of those three spots.
3. Sum the money. Add up the prize money for all those positions.
4. Divide the total by the number of players. Divide that total purse amount by the number of players in the tie.

The result is the equal payout that each golfer receives. The next player on the leaderboard with a different score would then receive the prize for the next open slot (in our three-way T2 example, the next player would finish 5th and get 5th place money).

A Real-World Example: Two-Way Tie for Second

Let's use a hypothetical big-money event purse to make this clear. Assume the prize distribution for the top spots is:

• 1st Place: $3,600,000
• 2nd Place: $2,180,000
• 3rd Place: $1,380,000
• 4th Place: $980,000

Now, let's say Brooks Koepka and Viktor Hovland both finish at -10, while the winner finishes at -11. They are tied for second (T2).

• Prize money slots: They take up the 2nd and 3rd place prize money.
• Formula: (Prize for 2nd + Prize for 3rd) / Number of Players
• Calculation:

($2,180,000 + $1,380,000) / 2 = $3,560,000 / 2 = $1,770,000

Both Koepka and Hovland walk away with $1,770,000 each. The player who finishes in 4th place receives the original $980,000 payout for that spot.

Another Example: Four-Way Tie for Fifth

This method applies all the way down the leaderboard. Let’s say four players tie for 5th (T5). We'll need to extend our prize money breakdown:

• 5th Place: $789,000
• 6th Place: $700,000
• 7th Place: $650,000
• 8th Place: $600,000

The four players tied for 5th occupy the prize money slots for 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th place.

• Prize money slots: They take up the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th place prize money.
• Formula: (Prize for 5th + 6th + 7th + 8th) / Number of Players
• Calculation:

($789,000 + $700,000 + $650,000 + $600,000) / 4 = $2,739,000 / 4 = $684,750

Each of the four players would receive $684,750. The next finisher on the leaderboard would place 9th.

It's Also About the Points

Prize money is only part of the equation. Professional golfers are also fighting for critical season-long points (like FedExCup points in the PGA Tour or Race to Dubai points in the DP World Tour) and Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points. These determine everything from tour card status to eligibility for major championships and lucrative signature events.

The system for distributing these points is exactly the same as it is for money. The points for all occupied finishing positions are added together and divided equally among the tied players. This is where finishing T2 versus T6 can have massive implications for a player’s season. The difference of a few a point here or there can be the difference between getting into The Players Championship or sitting at home.

What About Amateur Competitions and Club Golf?

What happens at the pro level is interesting, but what about the tournaments you and I play in? The principles are similar, just on a much smaller scale. While massive checks aren’t on the line, prizes and bragging rights still are.

If the prize is something divisible, like pro shop credit, the "add and divide" rule still typically applies. If second place wins a $100 credit and third place wins a $50 credit, two players tied for second would split the combined $150 and walk away with $75 in credit each.

When a Tie Must Be Broken: The Scorecard Countback

But what if the prize *can't* be split, like a trophy, a plaque, or that coveted reserved parking spot? A winner must be declared. Since staging a playoff for your club's B-Flight net championship isn't practical, a tie-breaking method known as a "countback" or "scorecard playoff" is used.

This is not a real playoff and doesn’t change the official scored results for handicap purposes - both players officially tied. The countback is simply a pre-determined procedure to decide who takes home the hardware. The Committee in charge of the competition sets the terms, but the USGA recommends a standard method:

1. Best Back Nine: The player with the lower score over the final nine holes (10-18) is declared the winner of the tie-break. In a net competition, half of the player's handicap is applied to the back nine score.
2. Best Last Six: If still tied, the comparison moves to the final six holes (13-18), with one-third of the handicap applied.
3. Best Last Three: If the tie persists, it comes down to the final three holes (16-18), using one-sixth of the handicap.
4. Final Hole: If they are somehow still tied, the winner is determined by the score on the 18th hole (with 1/18th of the handicap applied).

Some clubs may use slightly different variations, like comparing scores on the most difficult handicap holes, but the principle is the same. It's a fair, predetermined way to break a dead heat without requiring more golf.

Final Thoughts

Ties in golf, especially for second place, are settled by calculation, not confrontation. Whether it's averaging out multi-million dollar paychecks and world ranking points on tour or splitting pro shop credit at the club level, the "add and divide" method ensures a fair distribution. For those indivisible prizes, a scorecard countback provides a decisive, if not dramatic, conclusion.

Understanding the difference a single shot can make in prize money or FedExCup points shows just how much is on the line every week. When you dive a little deeper, the game's rules and procedures can feel pretty complex. At Caddie AI, we are here to act as your 24/7 golf expert, ready to answer any question about the game - from interpreting a confusing rule to developing a smart strategy for your next round. Having that knowledge in your pocket helps you play with more confidence and enjoy the game more. For instant, expert answers to all your golf questions, check out Caddie AI.