What is the cut in golf? The cut in a golf tournament is a score barrier that players must meet after a set number of rounds (usually the first two rounds) to be allowed to continue playing in the final rounds. If a player’s score is higher than the cut line, they go home; if it is equal to or lower than the cut line, they stay in the tournament.
Grasping The Tournament Cut Line
Golf tournaments, especially professional ones like those on the PGA Tour or LPGA Tour, operate on a system designed to keep the competition exciting. Not every player who starts on Thursday gets to play on Saturday or Sunday. This is where the cut rule comes into play. It trims the field down to the best performers.
Why Do Tournaments Use A Cut?
The cut serves several important purposes for tournament organizers and fans alike.
- Focusing the Field: A large field of players makes tracking scores difficult. Trimming the field ensures that media focus and fan attention remain on the top contenders.
- Pace of Play: Fewer players mean faster rounds. This keeps the tournament moving along on schedule.
- Prize Money Distribution: The cut separates those who earn money from those who do not. Only players making the cut receive prize money checks.
The Standard Cut Rule
Most professional events follow a similar standard for setting the cut line.
Number of Players Making The Cut
Typically, the cut is set so that the top 60 to 70 players, plus ties, advance.
- Top 60 and Ties: If the 60th best score is held by three players, all three move on, meaning 63 players might advance.
- The 36-Hole Standard: The cut is almost always applied after 36 holes (two rounds). This gives every player two chances to prove they deserve to stay.
The Score Cut vs. The Field Cut
There are two primary ways the cut line is determined: based on position (field cut) or based on score (score cut).
The Field Cut (Position Based)
This is the most common method. The tournament staff takes the leaderboard after 36 holes and selects the top X number of players.
| Rank After 36 Holes | Action Taken |
|---|---|
| Rank 1 through 60 | Advance to Rounds 3 and 4 |
| Rank 61 and lower | Eliminated from the tournament |
If multiple players tie for the 60th position, all tied players advance. This is why the final number of players moving on can sometimes exceed 72.
The Score Cut (Score Based)
In some events, especially smaller ones or those played in very tough conditions, a fixed score is set. For example, the cut might be set at 2-over par. Anyone shooting 3-over or worse misses the cut, regardless of their standing among the remaining field.
The 10-Shot Rule Exception
This rule is crucial for understanding how the cut operates when conditions are extremely difficult, or when a few top players struggle early on.
If the score of the player in 60th place is 10 strokes or more worse than the leader’s score after 36 holes, the cut is not based on position. Instead, it is based on score.
Example of the 10-Shot Rule:
- Leader is at -10 (134 total).
- The player in 60th place is at +3 (147 total).
- The difference is 13 strokes (more than 10).
- Result: The cut is established at +3. Anyone shooting worse than +3 goes home, even if that means more than 72 players advance.
This rule prevents a situation where the field is too large, usually because of severe weather that makes scoring impossible for a large portion of the field.
Impact of Ball Striking on Making The Cut
To make the cut, a player needs consistent play over two days. This heavily relies on sound golf swing mechanics and superior ball striking techniques. Even small errors over 36 holes compound quickly.
Consistency in Driving
A consistent drive sets up scoring opportunities. A player who is consistently slicing vs. hooking will struggle more than a player with a predictable shape.
- Slicing: A slice sends the ball far to the right for a right-handed golfer. This often leads to missed fairways, forcing recovery shots and higher scores. Causes of a golf slice typically involve an open clubface at impact and an outside-in golf swing path.
- Hooking: A hook curves too far left. While sometimes playable, it penalizes players by putting them in deep trouble in the trees or water hazards on the left side of the hole.
Approaching The Green
The real difference maker in securing a spot past Friday is often approach play. Getting close to the hole means more chances at birdies, which are essential for staying under the cut number. This requires achieving proper golf impact.
If a player is constantly missing greens long or short, they are forced to scramble, draining confidence and adding bogeys. Mastering the short game can save a few strokes, but it cannot completely compensate for poor long game execution over 36 holes.
Deciphering The Cut In Different Events
While the PGA Tour standard is well-known, not all professional tours use the exact same system.
Major Championships (Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, Open Championship)
Major championships often have a slightly stricter application of the cut rule.
- The Top 70 Rule: In the Majors, the cut is usually set at the 70th position, including ties, after 36 holes. This means fewer players advance compared to a regular PGA Tour event.
- No Second Cut: Unlike some older formats, modern Majors do not typically have a second cut after 54 holes. Once you make the 36-hole cut, you play all four rounds.
WGC Events (World Golf Championships)
WGC events historically had no cut at all. Since they often feature the world’s top 50 players, organizers felt it was unnecessary to trim the field. However, many WGC events have been discontinued or restructured, making this less relevant today.
Team Events (Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup)
These events do not use a cut. All selected players compete in every scheduled match, whether it is match play or stroke play qualifying rounds (if any).
Fixing A Golf Slice: A Path To Consistency
Many amateurs struggle with consistency, leading to poor tournament scores. For those battling a slice, focusing on the golf swing path is vital. If you find yourself constantly fixing a golf slice, you are likely struggling with mechanics that promote an outside-in strike.
Achieving An Inside-Out Swing
The desired golf swing mechanics for power and straight flight involve delivering the club from the inside.
Drills for an Inside-Out Swing
- The Gate Drill: Set up two headcovers or alignment sticks outside the ball, slightly in front of the ball on the target line. The goal is to swing the club inside the path between the ball and the inner marker, ensuring you don’t hit the outer marker.
- Tee Drill: Place a tee slightly in front of your golf ball and slightly further away from you than usual. Try to hit the ball first, then the tee. This forces you to shallow the club in transition, promoting an inside-out swing.
The Role of Impact Dynamics
Proper golf impact requires the clubface to be square to the target line at the moment of contact. A slice occurs when the face is open relative to the swing path, or when the path is too far outside-in, even if the face is relatively square to that path.
- Face Control: To stop slicing, you must learn to rotate your hands and forearms through impact. This closes the clubface.
- Path Control: To stop the outside-in motion, focus on dropping the club behind your body during the transition from the top of the backswing. This shifts the golf swing path toward the inside.
Factors Influencing The Cut Line Score
The exact score that makes the cut varies wildly from week to week. This is due to external factors that affect scoring difficulty.
Course Setup and Length
Harder courses lead to higher cut lines.
- Length: Very long courses punish inaccurate driving severely.
- Rough: Deep, thick rough makes recovery nearly impossible, forcing players to play conservatively and leading to more pars and bogeys.
- Green Speed and Firmness: Fast, firm greens make holding approach shots difficult. Players must rely on precision, which is hard to maintain over 36 holes.
Weather Conditions
Weather is perhaps the biggest determinant of the cut line.
- Wind: High winds make distance control erratic. Even elite players struggle to control the golf ball flight laws when the wind is gusting.
- Rain: Soft, wet conditions generally make scoring easier, as shots hold the greens better. However, heavy rain can slow down greens, making putting harder.
Table: Typical Cut Line Movement Based on Conditions
| Course Condition | Typical Cut Line (vs. Par) | Field Size After Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Easy (Low Wind, Soft Greens) | -4 to -7 | 65-70 Players |
| Average (Standard Conditions) | -1 to +1 | 60-65 Players |
| Difficult (High Wind, Firm Greens) | +2 to +5 | 60-65 Players |
The Psychological Edge of Making The Cut
Friday afternoon is often stressful for players near the projected cut line. Knowing how the cut works helps manage this pressure.
If a player is at even par, and the projected cut is +1, they know they need to secure par or better on their final few holes. Missing the cut means no prize money, no FedEx Cup points, and a long flight home. This pressure changes how players approach their shots. Some tighten up, while others thrive by leaning into their practiced ball striking techniques.
For players well inside the cut (e.g., top 10), Friday is about maximizing position for the weekend. They can afford a few mistakes without worrying about going home.
Fathoming The Process of The First Two Rounds
The first two rounds of a stroke-play event are essentially a tournament within a tournament. You are not competing just against the leaderboard leader; you are competing against the invisible line that separates success from failure.
Pairing Structure
In the first two rounds, players are often grouped based on their world ranking or recent performance, rather than their score. However, after Round 1, leaders are often paired together for Round 2 to maximize TV coverage.
Crucially, the pairings for Round 2 are often structured to ensure players close to the cut line are playing together. This creates tension as players watch each other struggle or succeed around the bubble.
The Importance of Finishing Strong
If a player makes the turn on Friday at +3 and the cut is at +2, they are essentially playing a “sudden death” format for the remaining holes. Every bogey risks elimination. Conversely, an eagle or a couple of birdies can salvage a round that looked destined for elimination. This is why maintaining solid golf swing mechanics until the very last putt drops on Friday is essential.
What Happens If A Player Withdraws Before The Cut?
If a player starts a tournament but withdraws (WD) before completing 36 holes, they are recorded as a withdrawal. They automatically miss the cut, regardless of their score at the time of withdrawal. They earn no prize money and receive no official standing points for that event.
Injury and Withdrawal
If a player suffers an injury during Round 1, they might withdraw immediately. If they complete Round 1 but cannot physically play Round 2, they withdraw before the cut is officially applied. Their standing is simply noted as “WD.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About The Golf Cut
Does Every Tournament Have A Cut?
No. Many smaller events, developmental tours, or specialized invitationals may have no cut, meaning all players complete four rounds. Major championships and regular PGA/LPGA Tour events almost always use a cut.
What Happens If I Make The Cut But Play Poorly On Saturday?
If you make the 36-hole cut, you advance to play 54 holes (Saturday) and 72 holes (Sunday). If your score after 54 holes is poor, you will likely drop far down the leaderboard, but you will still receive prize money based on your final standing. There is no second cut in modern professional stroke-play events after 54 holes.
Can The Cut Line Ever Be Worse Than The Leader’s Score?
Yes, this is the entire point of the 10-shot rule exception. If the conditions are brutal—perhaps heavy rain delays the start, or very high winds prevail—the leader might be at +2, but 60th place might be at +12. In this scenario, the cut line would be set at +12 (or whatever the score of the 60th player is, if it’s less than 10 shots behind the leader). If the leader is -5 and 60th place is +5 (10 shots difference), the cut might be set at +5, meaning everyone at +6 or worse goes home.
If I Tie For The Cut, Do I Have To Play A Playoff?
No. Unlike tiebreakers for winning the tournament, there are no playoffs for making the cut. If you tie for the final position that advances (e.g., tied for 60th place), you automatically advance to the weekend rounds.
How Does The Cut Affect My Ranking Points (FedEx Cup/Race to Dubai)?
Making the cut is vital for earning ranking points. Generally, the points awarded are weighted toward the top finishers, but simply making the cut guarantees a small share of points, keeping a player relevant in the season-long race. Missing the cut earns zero points for that specific event.