U.S. Open playoff format: How it works in the event of a tie

The leaders at the 2024 U.S. Open are coming down the back nine, and it’s turned into a two-man race.

Bryson DeChambeau, the 54-hole leader, still holds a piece of the lead, but thanks to some stellar putting from a fellow former U.S. Open champ, he’s not alone. Rory McIlroy, who won this championship in 2011, has chased down DeChambeau and has tied the lead with only a few holes to play.

In the event of a tie after regulation, the two will need a playoff to determine the winner. Check out below for more on how the U.S. Open playoff format works.

U.S. Open playoff format

If a playoff were to be needed at Pinehurst, it would be a first for the U.S. Open since 2008. That summer, Tiger Woods bested Rocco Mediate in a Monday playoff after the two finished tied after 72 holes. Back then, the USGA still used an 18-hole playoff format. Nowadays, they make things a little more simple.

Since 2018, the USGA has implemented a two-hole aggregate playoff format in the event of a tie after 72 holes, ensuring a champion would be crowned by Sunday evening.

We know how important it is to everyone in the golf world to see play conclude on the Sunday of a major championship, and to award the trophy to the champion,” said then-USGA CEO Mike Davis. “After receiving input from a variety of constituents, including players, fans, volunteers, officials and our broadcast partners, it clearly came across as something that everyone valued, and would benefit from.”

If the golfers featured in a playoff finish the two extra holes tied, then it will be sudden death from then on.

Which holes will be used for a playoff?

In the event of a tie, holes 17 and 18 will be utilized for the two-hole playoff. The two finishing holes have played as the seventh and 14th most difficult holes, respectively, for the week thus far.

How have the contenders played 17 & 18 this week?

So far this week, DeChambeau has played the two potential playoff holes slightly better than McIlroy. Their round-by-round results are below.

McIlroy
Rd 1. – Par, Birdie
Rd. 2 – Par, Par
Rd. 3 – Bogey, Par

DeChambeau
Rd. 1 – Par, Birdie
Rd. 2 – Par, Birdie
Rd. 3 – Birdie, Par