| SNEED | Ed __, runner-up in the first Masters sudden death playoff |
| METE | There's a limit to tee off at the first Masters (4) |
| LANNYWADKINS | American golfer who won the 1977 USPGA Championship in a three hole sudden-death playoff |
| TENSE | Like sudden-death playoffs |
| TIGERWOODS | Golf great who won his first Masters at 21 (1997) |
| REALM | Real first master's become a kingdom (5) |
| SANDERS | Doug ___, runner-up in the 1970 Open Championship, following a playoff (7) |
| BADGER | Ruth _, runner-up in The Apprentice 2006 (6) |
| AMOS | Andy _, runner up in Dragomania final 2025 - in sea mostly! (10) |
| SHEPPARD | Colin ___, runner-up in Tidefest 2022 (*prep shad) (8) |
| GARETHGATES | Singer who was runner-up in the first series of Pop Idol (6, 5) |
| NOLL | Runner-up in the first Australian Idol (Shannon ----) |
| JENRICK | Robert ___, runner-up to Kemi Badenoch in the Conservative leadership election of 2024 (7) |
| PIOLINE | Cedric ___, runner-up to Pete Sampras in both the 1993 US Open and 1997 Wimbledon singles tennis cha |
| OUTIE | Homeless person in Durban, 22, joined up in the first place! |
| TRAIL | The scent is picked up in the first railway carriage (5) |
| CARROLL | Jack _, runner-up on Britain's Got Talent 2013 (7) |
| LILY | Amelia _, runner-up on Celeb BB 20 (4) |
| LOSERS | They'll never show up in the first place |
| EXAM | First master to follow up 15 in test at school (4) |
