What is the AIG Women’s Open play-off format?

The AIG Women’s Open is set to be a real test this week.

The final major of the 2024 season heads back to the Old Course in St Andrews, for the first time in over a decade.

Stacy Lewis won that edition of the AIG Women’s Open, and she was forced to play 36 holes on Sunday thanks to the weather.

Players hoping to emulate the American, however, might want to ask for some advice.

Strong winds and rain could play a part in proceedings again, and that will most definitely increase the likeliness of extra holes deciding the winner.

So, in the case of a play-off in the AIG Women’s Open, what are the rules?

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AIG Women’s Open play-off format

The play-off rules at the AIG Women’s Open are simple nowadays, although it’s not always been the case.

In fact, in the championship’s second run – in 1977 – Vivien Saunders and amateur Mary Everard were tied at the end of play.

But instead of using a play-off, Saunders was crowned the winner because she carded a better final round: a 76 to Everard’s 79 at Lindrick Golf Club.

The first play-off, however, was contested 11 years later, in 1988. Corinne Dibnah beat Sally Little before Helen Alfredsson beat Jane Hill via the same method two years later.

Remarkably, there wasn’t another play-off at the AIG Women’s Open for 32 years, until Ashleigh Buhai required extra holes at Muirfield in 2022.

The South African was forced to replay the final hole until there was a winner.

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And that remains the play-off format for the AIG Women’s Open.

If two or more players are tied after four completed rounds, they will head back down the 18th hole and play on a sudden-death basis.

It’s impossible to determine whether it’s advantageous to tee off first or second, but to decide who will get the honour, players pull numbers from a blind draw.

Meanwhile, it is the same play-off format used to determine the winner of The Open.

And it was needed for the championship in 2015, when Zach Johnson won… at the Old Course.