How do golfers prefer their demise - sudden or drawn out? Would they like their gratification instantaneous or delayed?

Opinions about the best way to break a 72-hole tie in a major championship are as diversified as the major playoff formats themselves.

The purists may prefer 18 holes, but their practical side doesn't relish the idea of a next-day finish. The compromisers think the multiple-hole formats offer a happy medium.

"The more holes you play, the better the winner is likely to be," said Stuart Appleby (Stats | Bio) , who lost to Ernie Els (Stats | Bio) in a four-man, four-hole playoff to decide the 2002 British Open. "Whoever wins the tournament is the winner. You can't say the system is wrong because he shouldn't have won. You get a worthy winner whether it's one hole, nine holes or 18."

It was only a few decades ago when all of the majors agreed that breaking a tie to crown a champion required at least a full 18-hole round. But economics and television started changing minds about the practicality of extending majors an extra day.

The last 18-hole playoff in the PGA Championship took place in 1967, with Don January's defeating Don Massengale. The final British Open 18-hole playoff was won by Tom Watson (Stats | Bio) in 1975 over Jack Newton.

The PGA adopted a sudden-death format in 1977 before changing to a three-hole format in 1999. The British Open abandoned 18 holes for a multiple-hole playoff format in the mid-1980s. All five Open playoffs since have been four holes, though the length can vary depending upon the configuration of the course.

The last 18-hole playoff in the Masters Tournament was in 1970, when Billy Casper (Stats | Bio) defeated Gene Littler by five strokes. The Masters adopted its current sudden-death format in 1976, with Fuzzy Zoeller (Stats | Bio) 's winning the first one in 1979 with a birdie on the 11th hole to defeat Ed Sneed and Tom Watson (Stats | Bio) .

There have been six sudden-death playoffs commencing at the 10th tee in the Masters, none lasting long enough to reach the terrifying par-3 12th hole. Most years, waning daylight would be an issue if they had lasted any longer.

"You just want to play 12 the whole time," Rocco Mediate (Stats | Bio) said. "Here's what I'd do: have a playoff tee for 12 which is 200 yards back."

Barring that, the concept of a Masters playoff incorporating all of Amen Corner is as intriguing for players as it would be for fans. With its telegenic and strategic back nine, the Masters seems to beckon an extended climax.

By starting the final round earlier to build in more daylight, the Masters could adopt a four-hole format like the British Open - playing 10 through 13. If it's still tied, just keep playing the back nine in sudden death.

"That would be something," Lee Janzen said.

Mike Weir (Stats | Bio) 's victory over Len Mattiace (Stats | Bio) on the first sudden-death playoff hole last year raised the question again about what format is the most appropriate to decide a major. Weir needed only a bogey to beat Mattiace's double on the 10th hole at Augusta - an unsavory finish to a Sunday that saw Weir play bogey-free and Mattiace fire 65.

"For me, the sudden death worked out pretty well last year, and I think if you really ask the players, I think they prefer it that way," Weir said.

Asking the players didn't reveal a consensus.

"After playing 72 holes, you don't want to decide it in one hole," said Janzen, who never needed a playoff to win the U.S. Open twice. "Something more than one hole and something less than 18 holes that you can do that day."

"I like the way Augusta does it," Augusta native Charles Howell said. "Just go see who's got it. You've already played 72 holes, why play 18 more?"

"I kind of like the British thing," Brad Faxon (Stats | Bio) said. "It keeps the suspense but it's not the luck of one hole."

Augusta native Larry Mize (Stats | Bio) , whose spectacular chip-in from 140 feet on No. 11 stunned Greg Norman in a 1987 Masters playoff, has no complaints about sudden death deciding a major as it does in other PGA Tour events.

"It gets down to sudden death on the last hole anyway," Mize said. "There's definitely a tremendous element of excitement in first-low-score wins."

Spain's Seve Ballesteros (Stats | Bio), who bogeyed his way out of the 1987 Masters playoff eventually won by Mize, doesn't mind the swift resolution.

"Best playoff?" he said. "Years ago when we used to have the U.S. Open and Masters 18-hole playoffs, I thought that was the fairest. But looking overall, the best way is to finish sudden death and that's it. If you play four or five holes and the first hole a guy makes triple or double bogey, there's no atmosphere there."

There is some discrepancy among players about whether sending players out for an immediate playoff is appropriate considering the emotional and physical toll already assessed in the final round of a major. A player finishing earlier may either be rested or cold waiting for a conclusion. A player in the final group might be worn out or warmed up as the normal flow of a round is extended.

"You play four rounds in a major, you're pretty mentally fatigued," Weir said. "You don't want to end it quick, but you want to keep the momentum going."

Because all four majors have their own unique character, it seems fitting that each has a different playoff format.

"It doesn't matter whether it's sudden death or 18 holes or four holes," Mize said. "I just want to know in advance what's coming and then you've got no complaints."

Janzen concurs.

"I'm not going to complain if I get in any of them," he said.