All About Us Open Playoff Format: A Comprehensive Guide
The US Open playoff format is a 2-hole aggregate playoff introduced in 2018, replacing the 18-hole Monday playoff that had been used since 1970. If players are tied after 72 holes, they return immediately to the course to play holes 1 and 2 (or 10 and 18, as conditions dictate) with the lowest combined score winning. If still tied after those two holes, the playoff continues to sudden death on the same rotation until one player wins.
How the Current 2-Hole Playoff Works
The USGA adopted the 2-hole aggregate format starting with the 2018 championship at Shinnecock Hills. The change was driven by three goals: reducing weather delays that plagued Monday playoffs, maintaining network television windows, and keeping players in the same competitive window rather than making them wait until the next day.
The mechanics are straightforward:
- The playoff begins immediately after the final group finishes and any scorecard verification is complete
- Players play holes 1–2 (the opening two holes of the course), unless the USGA designates a different starting point for course logistics
- The player with the lower combined score on those two holes wins the championship
- If the aggregate scores are tied after two holes, sudden death continues on the same two-hole rotation (so if still tied after holes 1–2, they replay holes 1–2 again, and so on)
Concrete example: In 2021, the USGA published a playoff briefing that confirmed the rotation would be holes 1–2, with the same holes repeating as needed. This differs from the Masters or The Open, which use sudden death starting with a designated hole and continue hole by hole.
Why the Format Changed: 36-Hole and 18-Hole History
The modern format is the result of two major shifts, each driven by specific tournament logistics and competitive fairness concerns.
The 36-Hole Era (1898–1969)
From 1898 through 1969, a tie after 72 holes meant a 36-hole playoff the next day. The most extreme example came in 1931 at Inverness Club: Billy Burke and George Von Elm played 72 regulation holes tied, then played a 36-hole playoff that ended tied again. They played a second 36-hole playoff the next day, with Burke finally winning by one stroke after 144 total holes across five days. That marathon directly led to discussions about shortening the format.
The 18-Hole Monday Playoff (1970–2017)
In 1970 the USGA cut the playoff to 18 holes, played on Monday. This format produced some of the most memorable finishes in golf history:
- 2008, Torrey Pines: Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate tied at 1-under. Their Monday 18-hole playoff ended tied at even par, forcing sudden death on the 91st hole (the 7th hole of the playoff). Woods birdied, Mediate parred, and Woods won his 14th major. The playoff drew enormous television ratings and ran late into Monday afternoon.
- 1990, Medinah: Hale Irwin and Mike Donald tied at 8-under. Their 18-hole playoff ended tied at even par. They returned to the 1st tee for sudden death, and Irwin won with a par on the 19th playoff hole (the 91st hole overall).
- 1994, Oakmont: Ernie Els, Loren Roberts, and Colin Montgomerie tied. Els won the 18-hole three-man playoff by one stroke over Roberts.
The 18-hole format was criticized for two reasons: it required fans and broadcasters to return for a Monday round that might conflict with work schedules, and it sometimes created an anticlimactic 24-hour gap between regulation play and the conclusion.
Key Rules and Logistics Under the Current Format
A few specific rules distinct to the US Open playoff format are worth knowing:
Starting hole selection: The USGA reserves the right to start the playoff on holes 1–2 or 10–18 depending on course setup. If the 18th green is heavily traffic-worn, for example, they may choose to begin on the back nine to distribute wear evenly. They announce the starting hole combination before the playoff begins.
Equipment and practice: Players may use any club in their bag during the playoff and are allowed to use a replacement ball. They do not get a formal warm-up period after regulation ends; the expectation is they stay loose while scores are verified.
Prize money and trophy: The winner earns the US Open trophy, the gold medal, and the full winner’s share of the purse. The runner-up receives the silver medal and the second-place payout, just as in any other year. There is no split or reduced payout due to the playoff format.
No Monday playoff anymore: Since 2018, the championship always concludes on Sunday. The last Monday playoff was Brooks Koepka’s win over Hideki Matsuyama at Erin Hills in 2017 (where Koepka won by four strokes and no playoff was needed, but the format was still 18-hole Monday that year if a tie occurred).
Notable US Open Playoffs in History
While the 2-hole format has not yet been used in a championship since its adoption (no US Open since 2018 has required a Sunday playoff), understanding the historical context of past playoffs is essential:
| Year | Players | Format | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | Billy Burke vs. George Von Elm | 36-hole (+ 36 more) | Burke wins by 1 after 144 total holes |
| 1962 | Jack Nicklaus vs. Arnold Palmer | 18-hole Monday | Nicklaus wins by 3 (67 to 71) |
| 1971 | Lee Trevino vs. Jack Nicklaus | 18-hole Monday | Trevino wins by 3 (68 to 71) |
| 1990 | Hale Irwin vs. Mike Donald | 18-hole + sudden death | Irwin wins on 19th playoff hole |
| 2008 | Tiger Woods vs. Rocco Mediate | 18-hole + sudden death | Woods wins on 91st hole |
| 2015 | Jordan Spieth (won outright, but playoff was 18-hole) | 18-hole (if needed) | Spieth won at 5-under, no playoff |
The 2008 and 1990 playoffs remain the most cited arguments for the format change—each required extra holes beyond the scheduled 18, extending the championship further into Monday afternoon and leaving both players exhausted.
How the US Open Compares to Other Major Playoff Formats
Golf’s four major championships each use a different playoff system. Here is how the US Open’s 2-hole aggregate stacks up:
Masters Tournament: Sudden death beginning on the 10th hole, then 11th, then 18th, and continuing in order. This format has been used since 1976. Notable example: 2017, Sergio García beat Justin Rose on the first sudden-death hole (the 10th).
The Open Championship: Four-hole aggregate playoff introduced in 2019. Players play holes 1, 2, 17, and 18 (or another designated four-hole loop), and the lowest total wins. If tied, sudden death continues on the same four-hole rotation. Before 2019, The Open used a 4-hole playoff (from 1985–2018) and before that an 18-hole Monday playoff.
PGA Championship: Three-hole aggregate playoff introduced in 2019. Players play holes 16, 17, and 18, with the lowest total winning. If tied, sudden death continues on those same three holes. Before 2019, the PGA used a three-hole aggregate (introduced in 2000) and previously sudden death.
Key difference: The US Open is the only major that uses just two holes for the aggregate portion. The rationale, per the USGA, is that two holes provide enough of a “normal golf challenge” while keeping the championship decisive within a tight Sunday television window. The PGA uses three holes, The Open uses four, and the Masters uses sudden death only.
What Happens If a Spectator or Weather Disrupts the Playoff
The USGA’s rules for playoff disruptions mirror regulation play. If a player’s ball is moved by an outside agency (including a spectator), the player places the ball at the estimated spot with no penalty. If weather suspends play during the playoff, the players return to complete the remaining holes the next morning, starting exactly where they left off, with the same hole rotation continuing. No new playoff is started.
Because the playoff is only two holes, a weather suspension is unlikely but possible. In that scenario, the USGA would aim to resume as soon as conditions allow on Sunday evening, scheduling priority over all other golf operations.
Summary
The US Open playoff format is a 2-hole aggregate immediately after Sunday’s final round, with sudden death if needed. The change from the 18-hole Monday format in 2018 shortened the championship’s conclusion while preserving a proper golf test. No playoff has been required under the current rules, but the format stands ready to handle a tie with a decisive, television-friendly, and player-fair resolution that avoids the marathon Monday playoffs of earlier eras. The USGA specifically chose two holes to balance drama with efficiency—enough golf to reward the better two-hole performance, but short enough to conclude the championship on the same day.
Michael Reeves is a PGA Professional with over 20 years of experience in competitive golf and instruction. A former Division I collegiate player at the University of Texas, he competed on the mini-tours before transitioning to full-time coaching and golf journalism. He has been a certified PGA teaching professional since 2005 and has worked with players at every level, from absolute beginners to collegiate champions.
His writing has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and The Left Rough. At GolfHubz, Michael leads the editorial team, overseeing fact-checking and ensuring every answer meets the same standard he demands on the lesson tee: clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Michael plays to a +1.4 handicap at his home club in Austin, Texas. He has attended over 40 major championships as a journalist and fan, and has played more than 200 courses across 15 countries.
You can reach Michael at [email protected] or follow his occasional swing analysis posts on the site.
