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What is the US Open playoff format?

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How is the winner of golf’s second oldest major trophy determined if any players are level through 72 holes?

Tiger Woods won his 14th major at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines | Source: Getty Images

If two or more players are tied after 72 holes, they will need to play extra holes to decide a winner. So, what is the US Open playoff format?

A history of the US Open playoff format

The US Open’s original format involved the players returning for an 18-hole playoff, which would repeat until a winner was determined.

In 1925, Willie MacFarlane needed 108 holes to finally see off Bobby Jones by a single stroke. Then, in 1939, Denny Shute was eliminated after 18 extra holes, but Byron Nelson and Craig Wood could not be separated and on they went, with Nelson eventually winning by three. Nelson found himself in another 36-hole playoff in 1946 when, after a four-year hiatus due to World War II, he and Vic Ghezzi were beaten by a single stroke by Lloyd Mangrum.

In 1931, a full 36-hole playoff was in play. So when Billy Burke and George Von Elm still couldn’t be separated they returned for another 36. In the end, after 144 holes of golf, Burke won by a single stroke.

Then, in the 1950s, that all changed. If any players still couldn’t be separated after 90 holes, they would advance to a sudden-death situation until a winner was determined.

Sudden death has, to date, been needed on three occasions – in 1990 when Hale Irwin saw off Mike Donald, in 1994 when Ernie Els edged out Colin Montgomerie and Loren Roberts, and in 2008 when Tiger Woods saw off Rocco Mediate in that famous victory at Torrey Pines.

US Open playoff format

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What is the current US Open golf playoff format?

After consultation with fans and players alike, the 18-hole scenario was scrapped and, since 2017, a two-hole aggregate score playoff has been established.

This takes place as soon as the final players finish their fourth round.

The player with the lowest score after the three holes is the winner. If the players still can’t be separated then they will enter a sudden-death playoff until a winner can be determined.

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How many playoffs have there been?

The US Open has been decided via a playoff on 33 occasions. They are…

1901: Willie Anderson defeated Alex Smith
1903: Willie Anderson defeated David Brown
1908: Fred McLeod defeated Willie Smith
1910: Alex Smith defeated John McDermott and Macdonald Smith
1911: John McDermott defeated Mike Brady and George Simpson
1913: Francis Ouimet defeated Harry Vardon and Ted Ray
1919: Walter Hagen defeated Mike Brady
1923: Bobby Jones defeated Bobby Cruickshank
1925: Willie MacFarlane defeated Bobby Jones
1927: Tommy Armour defeated Harry Cooper
1928: Johnny Farrell defeated Bobby Jones
1929: Bobby Jones defeated Al Espinosa
1931: Billy Burke defeated George Von Elm
1939: Byron Nelson defeated Craig Wood and Denny Shute
1940: Lawson Little defeated Gene Sarazen
1946: Lloyd Mangrum defeated Vic Ghezzi and Byron Nelson
1947: Lew Worsham defeated Sam Snead
1950: Ben Hogan defeated Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio
1955: Jack Fleck defeated Ben Hogan
1957: Dick Mayer defeated Cary Middlecoff
1962: Jack Nicklaus defeated Arnold Palmer
1963: Julius Boros defeated Jacky Cupit and Arnold Palmer
1965: Gary Player defeated Kel Nagle
1966: Billy Casper defeated Arnold Palmer
1971: Lee Trevino defeated Jack Nicklaus
1975: Lou Graham defeated John Mahaffey
1984: Fuzzy Zoeller defeated Greg Norman
1988: Curtis Strange defeated Nick Faldo
1990: Hale Irwin defeated Mike Donald
1991: Payne Stewart defeated Scott Simpson
1994: Ernie Els defeated Colin Montgomerie and Loren Roberts
2001: Retief Goosen defeated Mark Brooks
2008: Tiger Woods defeated Rocco Mediate

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About the author

Matt Chivers
Matt Chivers

Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as the Masters, The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to many of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cleveland HiBore XL Driver driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, Benross BR-Pro irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.

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