What is the US Open play-off format?
There hasn’t been a play-off in golf’s toughest test in over 10 years so when the scenario comes around, it will be handy knowing what the US Open play-off format, especially after it was changed in 2018.
When was the last US Open play-off?
The last US Open play-off was in 2008 when Tiger Woods famously holed a putt on the 72nd hole of the tournament to force a play-off with Rocco Mediate.
The pair returned to Torrey Pines on the Monday and played 18 extra holes and still couldn’t be separated. Tiger won the extra hole after the play-off to win his 14th major title.
What is the current US Open play-off format?
In 2018 the US Open play-off format changed from an 18 hole play-off on the Monday, the format that was used for Tiger and Mediate’s play-off in 2008.
There were positives towards the use of the 18 hole format, specifically at the 1994 tournament when Colin Montgomerie, Ernie Els and Loren Roberts were in the Monday play-off.
Each type of play-off would have produced a different result e.g. using an aggregate play-off or sudden death. However, the USGA felt that the use of an 18 hole play-off helped determine a player who performed better on another full day rather than over two or three holes, like it successfully did in 1994.
On the matter, chief executive of the USGA, Mike Davies said, “I don’t think in the foreseeable future you will see a change in the 18-hole US Open playoff.”.
Despite this, the US Open play-off format has been changed to a two-hole aggregate play-off. This means that if two or players are tied at the top of the leaderboard then they will play two holes selected by the USGA and the player with the lowest score over the two holes will be crowned the champion.
If there is still a tie then the players still level on scorer will go into a sudden death play-off.
What is the Masters playoff format?
Matthew Beedle
Matthew has been playing golf since he was around 13 and took up the game at a local nine-hole municipal course with his friends before joining Pontefract & District Golf Club just over the hedge.
Still a member of Pontefract with a handicap of 3, he currently sits on the board of directors to help with digital and marketing initiatives in order to improve membership and visitor income.
Matthew graduated university with a First Class in Sports Journalism from Leeds Trinity University and has been working in the golf industry since graduating.
NCG’s social media & marketing manager, Matthew’s main job role is to increase website traffic to the National Club Golfer website via our email and social media channels as well as driving entries to grow our NCG Top 100s Tour events amongst other tasks.
Not one to change his equipment too often, Matthew currently plays the TaylorMade M2 driver which has lasted the test of time in his bag. Elsewhere, you’ll find him using the TaylorMade Stealth 2 three-wood with a Ping G425 Crossover 2-iron to aid his long game.
Through his 4-iron to Gap Wedge, Matthew uses the Ping i500 irons accompanied by Ping’s Glide 3.0 56-degree and 60-degree wedges.
Another club that has stood the test of time in his bag is a Nike Method Core MC-3i putter which has had to have the SuperStroke grip changed at least three times. Ball of choice is the Titleist ProV1.
