US Women's Open adopts three hole playoff

LOS ANGELES, Feb 3 (Reuters) Organisers of the US Women's Open have changed their playoff policy from 18 holes on the Monday to three holes after regulation play, starting this year.

The decision was announced yesterday following a vote of the executive committee at the United States Golf Association's annual meeting in San Francisco.

''This makes sense for the players, fans, volunteers, vendors, the general media and our broadcast partners regarding the Women's Open,'' USGA president Walter Driver said in a statement.

Should the competitors remain level after three playoff holes, extra holes of sudden death would follow until the deadlock is broken.

The move brings the US Women's Open in line with the men's British Open, which also uses a three-hole playoff.

Every other professional woman's tournament adopts a sudden-death format in playoffs.

The US Women's Open has produced 18-hole playoffs on 10 occasions in its 61-year history, the most recent coming last year when Swede Annika Sorenstam edged out American Pat Hurst at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island.

This year's championship will be held at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina from June 28 to July 1.

Reuters SBA VP0424