USGA changes playoffs
U.S. Open will no longer be 18 holes
The United States Golf Association announced Monday that it is switching to a two-hole aggregate playoff format in its four Open championships, including the U.S. Open.
The U.S. Open most recently used an 18-hole aggregate playoff in the event of a tie after 72 holes. Instead, the event — as well as the U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Senior Women’s Open — will decide its winner in two playoff holes, with subsequent suddendeath holes to follow if the score remains tied.
USGA CEO and executive director Mike Davis said the governing body solicited input from players, fans, volunteers and broadcast partners, among other entities, before making the change.
“We know how important it is to everyone in the golf world to see play con- clude on the Sunday of a major championship and to award the trophy to the champion,” Davis said in a statement.
“There is no right or wrong way to determine a winner in stroke play, but we’ve seen over the years how the aggregate playoff has served us well in both the U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open. ... Two holes will allow a player to recover from any single mistake and at the same time provide a memorable and perhaps dramatic experience for all involved.”
The U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open had most recently used a three-hole aggregate playoff, while the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open was also set to use a three-hole playoff before Monday’s announcement.
According to the USGA, the U.S. Open has gone to a playoff 33 times in its 117year history, all in either the 18- or 36hole playoff format. The last event to reach a playoff came in 2008, when Tiger Woods defeated Rocco Mediate.