SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – There’s a new playoff format this week at the U.S. Open, even if all 156 players in the field don’t realize it.
While Jordan Spieth plead ignorance to the format change during his Tuesday press conference at Shinnecock Hills, USGA officials actually announced in February that they would abandon the rigors of an 18-hole Monday playoff in favor of a two-hole aggregate that could be played Sunday night.
The new format made its debut last month at the U.S. Women’s Open which had previously switched to a three-hole aggregate. Ariya Jutanugarn defeated Hyo Joo Kim in what amounted to a four-hole overtime session when the aggregate produced another tie.