It’s been 18 years since the U.S. Open has needed more than 72 holes to determine a champion. And it’s been eight years since the USGA drastically shortened the amount of holes in its playoff format.
At the start of the fourth round of the 2026 U.S. Open, it seemed like a playoff would be impossible. Wyndham Clark had a six-stroke lead at the beginning of play. But the 2022 U.S. Open champion shot a 3-over 38 on the front nine and Sam Burns shot a 3-under 32 on his front nine to tighten the leaderboard.
All four majors have a unique way to decide a winner if four rounds prove insufficient. The U.S. Open held out on its traditional method of 18 playoff holes until just this past decade. The last time the old format came into play, even that wasn’t enough as Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate had to play a 19th bonus hole before the trophy could be lifted.
Watch U.S. Open live on Sling
This is the sixth time the U.S. Open has come to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, but the Long Island course has never witnessed a playoff before. Bonus golf has come to the New York metropolitan area though: Robert Jones won playoffs at Inwood Country Club in 1923 and Winged Foot in 1929, and Fuzzy Zoeller outlasted Greg Norman at Winged Foot in 1984.
What is the US Open playoff format?
If there’s a tie atop the U.S. Open leaderboard after 72 holes, the leaders will play two more holes: Nos. 17 and 18. The one with the lowest score will be the champion. If there’s still a tie, the players will go back to No. 15 for a sudden-death playoff, advancing toward the 18th as needed.
The USGA installed the two-hole aggregate format in 2018 but has yet to use it at the U.S. Open. Before then, the major was notorious for its 18-hole playoff the day after the final round. It used to be even harder: Back in the 1920s, the U.S. Open had a 36-hole playoff. That changed shortly after the 1931 U.S. Open, when Billy Burke had to play two playoff rounds to beat George Von Elm, meaning the two played eight rounds of golf at the Inverness Club.
US Open playoff history
2026 US Open TV schedule, streaming info
Coverage of the final round of the 2026 U.S. Open begins at 9 a.m. Sunday, June 21 on USA Network before switching to NBC at noon. The main broadcast is available to stream via Sling, which carries the NBC networks. Featured group and hole streaming is available on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s subscription streaming service, or for free at USOpen.com when play begins.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: If the 2026 US Open goes to a playoff, here’s what happens
Reporting by Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
