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USGA scraps 18-hole playoff format for US Open

March 01, 2018 16:45·
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But that has all changed.

The USGA announced on Monday that the playoff format for the U.S. Open will now be a two-hole aggregate score on Sunday instead of 18 holes of golf the following day. The women's tournament and senior tournament have had a three-hole aggregate playoff for years, which apparently influenced the USGA's decision to change the men's tournament to a similar format.

And this year one of the unique aspects of the U.S. Open will be its playoff structure.

He said the USGA asked players, broadcaster partners, vendors and fans about ending the 18-hole playoff. The PGA Championship did the same a year later, and Lanny Wadkins won the first sudden-death playoff in major championship history in 1977 at Pebble Beach.

If players are still tied after two extra holes the play-off will become sudden death.

A new two-hole aggregate play-off will be introduced for leaders tied after 72 holes, before reverting to sudden-death until a victor is crowned.

There have been 12 playoffs in U.S. Women's Open history while the U.S. Senior Open has been sent to extra holes on six occasions.

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It means the U.S. Open will join the other three major championships by having ties decided immediately after regulation play on Sunday, rather than requiring golfers to return for a full round on Monday.

Bobby Jones won two of his four U.S. Opens in 36-hole playoffs, in 1923 and 1929.

Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose and Webb Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open victor, who were among some 30 players waiting in Palm Beach International Airport for their flight to Mexico for the WGC-Mexico Championship on Monday afternoon, agreed that a more immediate conclusion to the championship was overdue, though they too were puzzled over the USGA opting for a mere two holes.

"Two holes will allow a player to recover from any single mistake and, at the same time, provide a memorable, and perhaps dramatic, experience for all involved", said Davis. Those are the only three playoffs in the last 25 years.

"I won't say it was everybody, but seemingly it was, 'Why do we have to come back tomorrow?'" Davis said.

"Hey, I loved the 18-hole playoff". They've got plenty of daylight. Tiger Woods beat Rocco Mediate in a matchup that went to a sudden-death format after the two remained tied through 18. The 17th and 18th holes at Pebble Beach in 2019 would be a par 3 and a par 5, two of the most scenic holes in American golf.

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