The U.S. Open is Switching its Playoff Format

The U.S. Open is now the third major of the year after the schedule change moved the PGA Championship up into May but after The Masters it is probably the second most popular golf tournament of the year. And this year one of the unique aspects of the U.S. Open will be its playoff structure. If multiple players are tied after 72 holes, the U.S. Open calls for a full 18 holes be played the next day but that has now changed.

Rather than extending a tournament into Monday, the USGA announced that it will instead make the playoff system a two-hole aggregate playoff. This way, the tournament isn’t extended another full day the trophy can go out the same day. This won’t just apply to the men’s U.S. Open, however, as the USGA is also instituting this system across the women’s and senior’s tours.

Starting in 2018, ties will be broken with a 2️⃣-hole aggregate playoff in all USGA Open championships:#USWomensOpen☑@usopengolf ☑#USSeniorOpen ☑#USSeniorWomensOpen☑ pic.twitter.com/RICxgCyOof

— USGA (@USGA) February 26, 2018

With this switch to an aggregate playoff system, there is no longer a full 18 hole playoff for any of the majors. In fact, every single major now institutes an aggregate playoff except for the Masters, which maintains its sudden death playoff. While the U.S. Open will implement a two hole aggregate, however, the PGA Championship has a three hole aggregate and the Open Championship is a four hole aggregate.

There have been 33 career playoffs since the U.S. Open became an event and they have all been under the 18 hole playoff format. It’s only happened twice since the turn of the century, with Ratief Goosen winning in 2004 and most recently ended with Rocco Mediate falling to Tiger Woods in 2008. Tiger’s title will go down as the last to be won under that playoff system.

This seems like a good move for the USGA, being that the U.S. Open was the last major to enforce this system and it should keep fans intrigued. But we certainly will miss the prospect of watching two or more golfers battling over one final 18 holes.

Cover Image via Twitter