Finally.
This one’s been overdue for a long, long time.
A golf spectator’s worst fear is a tie at the U.S. Open. The Monday 18-hole playoff is so very, very, very anti-climatic.
At last, the U.S.G.A. agrees.
They’re gone, done with, outta here.
Starting this year, there will be two-hole, aggregate playoffs in the event of a tie after four rounds of stroke play. If there’s still a tie, sudden-death format begins.
Maybe, just maybe the U.S.G.A. listened to its broadcast partners and looked at ratings for Monday playoffs.
Here’s how U.S.G.A. executive director Mike Davis put it:
“We know how important it is for everyone in the golf world to see play conclude on the Sunday of a major championship. 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.”
Thanks Mike, this one’s been long overdue.
For the record, the last time the men’s U.S. Open went to Monday was 2008. Winner was Tiger Woods and that was the last time he won a major.
Time flies, doesn’t it?
