The 2016 U.S. Women's Open will go to a playoff at CordeValle, with Anna Nordqvist and Brittany Lang tied after 72 holes at 6-under 282.
The USGA changed the U.S. Women's Open playoff format away from an 18-hole playoff to a three-hole playoff, meaning Nordqvist and Lang will play three holes, with the best aggregate score winning the U.S. Women's Open title. If the players are tied after three holes, then the tournament goes into a sudden-death format. The playoff starts immediately after 72-hole play ends.
Since the new playoff format was instituted in 2007, there's only been one playoff. So Yeon Ryu beat Hee Kyung Seo by three shots -- 2 under par to 1 over par -- in the three-hole playoff at the Broadmoor in Colorado in 2011.
The last playoff under the old 18-hole format came in 2006 at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island, when Annika Sorenstam won over Pat Hurst by a score of 74-70.