The US Open, and associated events such as the US Women’s Open, US Senior Open and US Senior Women’s Open will all be losing the much controversial 18-hole playoff.
Whereas other major events use either sudden-death systems (The Masters) or three and four aggregate holes (The US PGA and The Open respectively), the US Open stood alone in its use of a full extra round.
The last time the tournament was extended an extra day was in 2008, when Tiger Woods won his last major tournament.
Tied at one-under-par after four rounds, Woods and compatriot Rocco Mediate went to Monday to try and determine a winner.
Amazingly, the two once again tied with a par round of 71 at Torrey Pines, as Woods birdied on the final hole to force sudden-death, something Woods won at the first time of asking.
Now, however, the United States Golf Association believe a change is in order.
USGA director Mike Davis said:
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,
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.
The old system will be replaced with a two-hole system, with adjoining sudden-death should the need arise.
The 2018 US Open will take place at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York.
