Sometimes, 72 holes at the U.S. Open championship just aren’t enough to crown a new major champion.It’s rare—a U.S. Open hasn’t needed a playoff since Tiger Woods took down Rocco Mediate in 19 extra holes in 2008—but we’ve been flirting with a playoff at the major in recent years. Since 2020, four of the six U.S. Open tournaments have been decided by exactly one stroke: John Rahm’s win in 2021, Matt Fitzpatrick’s victory in ’22, Wyndham Clark’s win in ’23 and Bryson DeChambeau’s second U.S. Open title in ’24.In other words? We’re due for some playoff drama.If you’re reading this on Sunday, that likely means someone has caught—or is close to catching—Wyndham Clark and the six-stroke lead he dragged into the tournament’s final day. If that’s the case, here’s everything you need to know about the playoff format at the U.S. Open:2026 U.S. Open playoff rules and format at Shinnecock Hills Golf ClubIf the 2026 U.S. Open goes into a playoff, the players will battle in a two-hole aggregate format, meaning the player with the best score after those two holes wins the tournament. If there’s still a tie after two holes, the playoff will enter a sudden death stage until one player beats the other on a hole to win the major. In 2026, the two-hole aggregate playoff at Shinnecock would be played on the 17th and 18th holes.17th hole: Dubbed “Rabbit’s Foot,” the par-3 17th hole measures at 176 yards. Entering Sunday, there have been 0 eagles, 30 birdies, 260 pars and 92 bogeys or worse on the 17th hole. During Saturday’s challenging round, just three players birdied the 17th hole.18th hole: Named “Home,” the par-4 18th hole measures at 490 yards. It’s been a challenge this week, as there have been 32 birdies, 260 pars, and 90 bogeys or worse on the 18th hole. Just eight players notched a birdie on 18 on Saturday. GIUFFRA: Scottie Scheffler Is Imagining a Storybook Ending to the U.S. OpenHistory of playoffs at the U.S. OpenThe U.S. Open recently switched to the two-hole aggregate playoff format in 2018, much to the dismay of many golf purists. Before 2018, a major champion would be crowned after a full 18-hole playoff. (And from 1928 to 1931, there briefly was a 36-hole playoff format implemented in the U.S. Open. That didn’t last long.) The last time the U.S. Open went to a playoff was the aforementioned classic 2008 battle between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines. Playing on two stress fractures and a torn ACL in his left knee, Woods fumbled a three-stroke lead in the 18-hole playoff but tied it again with a birdie on the 18th hole. On the 19th hole, Mediate bogeyed, and Woods tapped in for par to clinch his 14th career major.Here’s a list of every U.S. Open that went to a playoff and the winner:1901: Willie Anderson1903: Willie Anderson1908: Fred McLeod1910: Alex Smith1911: John J. McDermott1913: Francis Ouimet (a)1923: Bob Jones (a)1925: William Macfarlane1927: Tommy Armour1928: Johnny Farrell1929: Bob Jones (a)1931: Billy Burke1939: Byron Nelson1940: Lawson Little1946: Lloyd Mangrum1947: Lew Worsham1950: Ben Hogan1955: Jack Fleck1957: Dick Mayer1962: Jack Nicklaus1963: Julius Boros1965: Gary Player1966: Billy Casper Jr.1971: Lee Trevino1975: Lou Graham1984: Fuzzy Zoeller1988: Curtis Strange1990: Hale Irwin1994: Ernie Els2001: Retief Goosen2008: Tiger WoodsPlayoff formats for each majorAll four of the majors have their own unique playoff format.The Masters: Sudden death, similar to most PGA Tour events.PGA Championship: Three-hole aggregate, then sudden death. U.S. Open: Two-hole aggregate, then sudden death.British Open: Four-hole aggregate, although a three-hole aggregate has been used several times in the last few years, including in 2025. Sudden death if there’s still a tie.More Golf from Sports IllustratedAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow