The U.S. Women's Open follows a distinct playoff strategy to ensure a clear winner emerges in the event of a tie. The USGA has adopted a two-hole aggregate format for playoffs, which has been the standard since 2018.
This approach means if two or more golfers are tied after the standard 72 holes, they engage in a two-hole playoff. The specific holes are predetermined by championship officials to test the players' versatility and endurance under pressure.
Should a tie persist after these additional holes, the competition shifts to a sudden death format, ensuring the stakes are as high and thrilling as possible. This sudden death overtime continues until a winner emerges.
This system aligns with the men’s U.S. Open, showcasing a unified approach by the USGA across their major championships.
Historically, the U.S. Women’s Open employed different playoff formats. From 2007 to 2017, a three- to four-hole aggregate determined the champion. Before this period, an 18-hole playoff scheduled the day after the final round added to the tournament's tradition.
The current playoff format was notably used in 2018 when Ariya Jutanugarn triumphed in a dramatic sudden death conclusion, marking a successful adaptation of this concise yet intense format.
