U.S. Open golf trims playoff to 2 holes

The U.S. Open is changing to a two-hole aggregate playoff, the last of the four majors to do away with an 18-hole playoff.

The change would be used at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island in June if there is a tie after 72 holes. The U.S. Golf Association also decided to make its other three open championships two-hole playoffs: the U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

The U.S Open has had 33 playoffs in its 117 years.

“There was a time when they did make sense before television, before the modern era of wanting everything decided immediately,” said Mike Davis, chief executive of the USGA. “There is no correct way to determine a tie in stroke play.