With the final golf major of the season in full swing at Royal Portrush, and a stack of players in the mix – we explain the Open golf play-off rules and format in case there’s a tie at the top of the leaderboard on Sunday afternoon.
Open Golf Play-Off Rules And How They’ve Changed 📜🏌️
There is every chance this year’s 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush could be a tight-run affair as we head into the weekend.
So, many golf fans will be wondering what happens if there’s Open golf play-off in 2025?
Especially if there’s more than two players involved.
The Open golf play-off rules have changed slightly in recent years if there’s a clash at the top of the leaderboard.
We’ve Had Two Open Golf Play-Off Rule Changes
Since it’s inception in 1860, there have been two Open golf play-off format changes.
At first, if there was a tie, the players were asked to come back the following day to play again over the full 18 holes.
But in 1989 this was altered to a four-hole aggregate-score play-off.
This four-hole version came into force seven times since it was introduced in 1989. The most recent was in 2015 at St Andrews.
That year Zach Johnson, Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen couldn’t be separated after 72-holes.
With America’s Zach Johnson winning that three-way Open play-off on the Old Course in Scotland.
However, at the 2019 Open the R&A revealed they would be changing the format at the future Open golf venues.
Open Golf Play-Off Rules 2025 Will See A Three-Hole Shoot Out at Portrush⛳
The current Open golf play-off rules have seen the format shorten to three holes.
This applies to two or more players that might be tied for the lead after 72-holes. With the aggregate play-off scores added up over this trio of holes.
Ahead of the 2025 Open, the R&A announced that Royal Portrush holes that will be used in the play-off will be as follows.
- 1st – Par 4
- 13th – Par 3
- 18th – Par 4
If the players are still tied after the three play-off holes – they will then move to sudden death (more on that below).
Portrush Open Play-Off Holes In More Detail⛳
Hole 1 (Par 4): Hughie’s (420 yards)
A tricky opening hole that sees internal out-of-bounds on both sides.
The smart play is to lay up short of the bunker on the left side. Which will leave a mid-to-long iron to the green.
The approach to the green is uphill to a false front, with the green cambering slightly from the right.
Most players this week have favoured entering the green on the right to avoid the left green bunkers and the rough behind them.
Hole 13 (Par 3): Featherbed (199 Yards)
Two of the Royal Portrush par-3’s don’t have ANY bunkers. However, this one has FIVE scattered around it.
The green also slopes from front-to-back and if the wind is blowing south- a lot of balls can end up running through the putting surface.
With a big green the R&A also have the option of moving the pin forward. Which mean this hole could be played as short as 130 yards at times.
Hole 18 (Par 4): Babington’s (474 Yards)
The final 2025 Open golf play-off hole will be the 18th, which plays 474 yards.
This used to be the old 16th, until Royal Portrush changed the course.
Players are faced with an elevated tee shot, with the best play to fire one down the left side.
But this is dicing with the out-of-bounds here. However, it does leave a much better angle into the green.
There is a deep bunker that protects the green to the right side. But anything left is swept away into a hollow – leaving a challenging up-and-down.
Open Golf Play-Off Sudden Death Rules
If the players still can’t be separated after the three play-off holes – they will move to the dreaded ‘SUDDEN DEATH’.
This will be played over just the 18th hole – where the players will keep playing Portrush’s final hole until there’s a winner of the Open Championship prize money.
When Was The Last Open Golf Play-Off?⛳
The last Open Championship to require a play-off was in 2015 at St Andrews when Zach Johnson saw off Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen in the old four-hole format.
The Open has been decided 21 times in a playoff, with the first coming back in 1876 when the players had to play the full 18-holes again.
