The Open playoff rules: What happens if players are tied after four rounds?

IT’S the final day of The Open – and it’s still all to play for at Royal Troon.

The likes of Justin Rose, Scottie Scheffler and Shane Lowry are all well in the picture for this year’s Claret Jug.

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And it looks like it will go right down to the 72nd hole of The Open – but what happens if players are tied after four rounds?

What happens if players are tied after four rounds at The Open?

In the event of a tie through 72 holes at The Open, the winner will be decided by a four-hole aggregate playoff.

This year at Royal Troon will see holes 1,2,17 and 18 in rotation for the playoff.

The first two holes are par 4s listed at 355 and 389 yards respectively, while the 17th is a 242-yard par 3 with a 458-yard par 4 the 18th hole.

Should the scores still be tied after the four-hole aggregate playoff, a sudden-death shootout on the 18th hole will decide who takes home the Claret Jug.

How many times has The Open gone to a playoff?

The Open has been won 21 times via a playoff in its 152-year history.

The last time a playoff was required at The Open was in 2015 – when Zach Johnson edged Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen to claim the Claret Jug at St Andrews.

All 21 Open winners via the playoff:

• 2015: Zach Johnson
• 2009: Stewart Cink
• 2007: Padraig Harrington
• 2004: Todd Hamilton
• 2002: Ernie Els
• 1999: Paul Lawrie
• 1998: Mark O’Meara
• 1995: John Daly
• 1989: Mark Calcavecchia
• 1975: Tom Watson
• 1970: Jack Nicklaus
• 1963: Bob Charles
• 1958: Peter Thomson
• 1949: Bobby Locke
• 1933: Denny Shute
• 1921: Jock Hutchinson
• 1911: Harry Vardon
• 1896: Harry Vardon
• 1889: Willie Park Jr.
• 1883: Willie Fernie
• 1876: Bob Martin

How to watch The Open

• The Open 2024 is aired live on Sky Sports Golf.
• Sky Sports customers can live stream the action via the Sky Sports/ NOW app.
• Alternatively, you can keep up to date with the very latest from Royal Troon by following SunSport’s live blog.