US Open playoff format: What happens if there’s a tie after 72 holes?

Extra holes are a real possibility at Oakmont. This is the US Open playoff format should that happen…

Seventy-two holes are often not enough to separate the best golfers in the world in the biggest events in the game. So, with that in mind, what is the US Open playoff format?

Each of the four men’s majors does it slightly differently. At the Masters, if two or more players finish on the same score, they return for a sudden-death playoff until a winner emerges. In case you missed it, that is how Rory McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam at Augusta National, defeating Justin Rose at the first extra hole.

The PGA Championship, meanwhile, is decided by a three-hole playoff in the event of a tie after four rounds, which then becomes sudden-death if any players still can’t be separated. 

And The Open, the oldest championship of them all, is decided by a four-hole playoff and then sudden-death if required. 

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How many times has the US Open needed a playoff?

Over the years, there have been plenty of playoffs to determine the US Open, 33 in fact, although it has been some time since one was necessary. 

The most recent playoff was arguably the tournament’s most famous. In 2008, Tiger Woods, with a broken leg, took on Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines over 18 holes. 

It was an encounter few who saw it will ever forget. It swung back and forth to the point that both men were still tied at the end.

However, Woods finally prevailed at the first sudden-death hole to capture his 14th major and third US Open.

Since the change to the rules in 2018, there haven’t been any playoffs, so we are long overdue…

What is the current US Open playoff format?

As for America’s national title, the playoff format was recently changed by the USGA. 

Prior to 2018, any players on the same score come Sunday evening would return on Monday to battle it out for glory in an 18-hole playoff. 

However, this was deemed impractical for all involved and was scrapped in favour of a two-hole playoff.

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