Here's How a U.S. Open Playoff Will Be Decided at Los Angeles Country Club

The U.S. Open uses a two-hole aggregate score playoff instead of sudden death.

LOS ANGELES – If there is no winner after 72 holes at the U.S. Open, a two-hole aggregate score playoff will be used to determine a champion.

At Los Angeles Country Club, the two playoff holes are the 578-yard par-5 1st and 492-yard par-4 18th. Competitors will play both holes and the low total score wins. Should players still be tied after that, sudden death will begin.

The U.S. Open hasn't had a playoff since 2008, when Tiger Woods defeated Rocco Mediate in a classic 18-hole Monday playoff at Torrey Pines.

Ten years later, in 2018, the USGA eliminated the 18-hole playoff, preferring that its flagship event finish on Sunday.

“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,” then-USGA CEO Mike Davis said. “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.”

At last year's PGA Championship, Justin Thomas defeated Will Zalatoris in a three-hole aggregate playoff, the most recent playoff in a major championship.