The number of players who make the cut in a standard professional golf tournament is typically the top 60 players and ties after two rounds of play. This process dictates who continues playing for the weekend prize money and the championship title.
Navigating the world of professional golf can seem complex. From earning a spot in a tournament to surviving the halfway mark, the rules change often. This guide breaks down how many golfers make the cut across different tours and events. We will explore golf tournament qualification, the specifics of tour structures, and the importance of making the cut in golf.
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The Mechanics of the Cut Line
Most professional golf events are four-round tournaments. The first two rounds (Thursday and Friday) determine which players advance. This halfway point is called the cut.
Standard PGA Tour Cut Rules
The PGA Tour has clear guidelines for who moves on. For regular weekly events, the standard rule is straightforward.
The 36-Hole Standard
After 36 holes are complete, the field is cut down.
- Top 60 Players and Ties: This is the most common scenario. If the 60th position results in a tie, all tied players advance. This means sometimes more than 60 players play on Saturday and Sunday.
Exceptions to the Rule
Sometimes the PGA Tour changes the cut rule. This usually happens when fewer than 144 players start the event, or for specific invitational tournaments.
- No Cut Events: Some large, invitation-only events, like the Arnold Palmer Invitational or The Memorial Tournament, may have no cut. All players who start the tournament play all four rounds.
- Reduced Field Cuts: If the starting field is small (say, 78 players), the tour might use a different metric. They might cut after the top 70 players and ties. The goal remains to narrow the field but ensure a reasonable number of players remain.
The purpose of the cut is simple: reduce the field to ensure the final two rounds run smoothly and that the top performers earn the most time in the spotlight.
LPGA Tour Qualification and Advancing
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) follows rules similar to the PGA Tour for most events, but their structure for entry and playing status is highly competitive. LPGA Tour qualification criteria are strict because the fields are usually smaller.
LPGA Cut Structure
The cut on the LPGA Tour is almost always the top 60 players and ties after 36 holes.
- Consistency is Key: For an LPGA player, making the cut is vital not just for prize money but also for maintaining position on the money list. High rankings lead to better entry into major events.
The Role of the Commissioner’s Group
If the field size is large, the LPGA may sometimes use the “Commissioner’s Group” rule, though it is rare for standard events. This allows the Commissioner to select players who miss the cut but are ranked highly enough to play the weekend, usually reserved for specific circumstances or very large international fields.
Deeper Dive: Korn Ferry Tour Advancement
The Korn Ferry Tour serves as the direct feeder system for the PGA Tour. The stakes here are arguably higher than on the main tour because players are competing for Tour card status golf—a ticket to the big leagues.
Korn Ferry Tour Cut Rules
The cut philosophy on developmental tours emphasizes rewarding players who perform well over the long season, rather than just one week.
- Fewer Cuts: The Korn Ferry Tour often has fewer cuts during its regular events compared to the PGA Tour. Many events are purely 72-hole stroke-play tournaments without a cut. Why? These tours want to give players the maximum number of competitive rounds possible to build experience and skill.
- No Cut Events: A significant number of Korn Ferry Tour events have no cut at all. Everyone plays four rounds.
- Exceptions: If a tournament is exceptionally large, a cut might be implemented, usually sticking to the 60-player standard.
Korn Ferry Tour Advancement Beyond Weekly Cuts
The real “cut” on the Korn Ferry Tour happens at the end of the season. The top players based on the season-long points list gain promotion to the PGA Tour. This is the ultimate advancement goal.
| Tour Level | Typical Weekly Cut Rule (After 36 Holes) | Frequency of No-Cut Events | Primary Goal of Advancing |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGA Tour | Top 60 and Ties | Rare (Select Invitationals) | Prize Money & FedEx Cup Points |
| LPGA Tour | Top 60 and Ties | Very Rare | Money List Ranking & Major Entry |
| Korn Ferry Tour | Often No Cut | Frequent | Earning PGA Tour Card Status |
Professional Golfer Entry Standards and Field Size
Before a golfer can worry about the cut, they must get into the tournament. How golfers make the field is a multi-layered system involving exemptions, Monday qualifiers, and finishing high on previous tours.
Categories of Entry
A professional golfer gains entry through various pathways:
- Exemptions: Players who won a recent event, are ranked high enough in the world (e.g., top 125 for PGA Tour), or have high career earnings usually get automatic entry.
- Sponsor Exemptions: Tournament hosts can invite a few players to fill out the field.
- Qualifying Tournaments: Players play in preceding Monday qualifiers or smaller regional events to earn a single spot for the main tour event.
Field Size Matters
The size of the starting field directly influences the cut number, although the “Top 60” rule remains dominant.
- Large Fields (144+): When fields are large, the standard cut (Top 60 and ties) works well.
- Small Fields (Fewer than 78): In smaller fields, sometimes the tour will choose to take the Top 70 and ties, or even the Top 65 and ties, to ensure enough players remain for the weekend.
Major Championship Qualifying: The Toughest Hurdles
Major championship qualifying events—The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship—operate under entirely different structures. These events are about prestige, history, and securing a spot against the world’s best.
The Masters (Augusta National)
The Masters is an invitational event. Once you are in, you are generally in for life (if you meet certain amateur/senior criteria).
- The Masters Cut: For competitive scoring, the cut rule is unique:
- Top 50 players and ties advance to the weekend.
- Any player within 10 strokes of the lead also advances, regardless of their position on the leaderboard relative to the 50th spot. This ensures exciting play near the lead continues.
U.S. Open (USGA)
The U.S. Open features a massive field, often including hundreds of players who advance through grueling local and sectional qualifying rounds.
- U.S. Open Cut: The rule is the Top 60 players and ties after 36 holes. Because of the high difficulty of the course, ties are common.
PGA Championship and The Open Championship
These two majors adhere closely to the standard professional model.
- PGA Championship Cut: Top 70 players and ties after 36 holes. This is slightly different from the standard 60.
- The Open Championship Cut: Top 70 players and ties after 36 holes.
The distinction in the PGA Championship and The Open (70 vs. 60) shows that even at the highest level, slight variations exist based on tradition and field management.
Golf Championship Eligibility Beyond the Weekly Grind
Earning a spot in a major or a high-profile event is the first major hurdle. Securing a Tour card status golf relies on year-long performance, not just one week’s result.
FedEx Cup Points and the Season-Long Race
On the PGA Tour, making the cut week after week accumulates FedEx Cup Points. These points determine who advances through the multi-stage FedEx Cup Playoffs at the end of the season.
- Playoff Cuts: The playoffs have hard cuts after the first two playoff events:
- Event 1 (The Northern Trust/FedEx St. Jude): The field is cut from about 125 down to the Top 70 players in the standings.
- Event 2 (BMW Championship): The field is cut again, this time from 70 down to the Top 30 players who advance to the final event, the Tour Championship.
These playoff cuts are crucial because they eliminate players based on season performance, not just the current tournament score.
Maintaining Status on Developmental Tours
Players on the Korn Ferry Tour or PGA Tour Americas must balance weekly performance with season-long goals.
- Earning the Card: If a player on the Korn Ferry Tour fails to make the cut in a no-cut event, they still get 72 holes of play. However, if they consistently fail to cash checks (earn money), they will quickly run out of opportunities to climb the points list needed for promotion.
Comprehending the Psychology of the Cut
For the professional athlete, the cut line is more than just a number; it’s a psychological pressure point.
The Pressure of the Bubble
Players hovering around the 60th or 70th spot feel immense pressure on Friday afternoon. A single bad hole can mean going home early.
- Financial Impact: Missing the cut means no prize money for that week. For players grinding on developmental tours, this can mean covering travel expenses out of pocket.
- Momentum Loss: Missing the cut stops momentum and prevents players from earning crucial FedEx Cup or Race to CME Globe points.
Strategic Play Around the Cut
Sometimes, a player who knows they are far outside the projected cut line might choose to play more aggressively on Friday to try and post a low score, accepting they probably won’t make it but hoping for a career-best round.
Conversely, a player sitting right on the bubble might play conservatively to ensure they finish inside the line, prioritizing guaranteed prize money over high risk/high reward play.
Golf tournament qualification Beyond the Cut: The Path to the Top
The cut is a short-term goal. The long-term goal involves achieving sustained excellence that makes the cut line irrelevant.
The World Golf Rankings (OWGR/WWGR)
Elite players earn points in most professional events they enter. High rankings provide entry into majors and top-tier signature events, which often have no cuts or offer substantial points.
The Importance of Winning
Winning an event automatically grants exemptions for future events and earns massive points, effectively removing the concern of the weekly cut line for a specified period.
A Look at Amateur and Collegiate Events
Even below the professional level, the concept of advancing exists.
- NCAA Golf: In collegiate golf, team competitions often use a cut after two rounds, leaving the top teams to battle it out on the final day. Individual performances often determine who advances to individual championships if the team does not qualify.
Summary of Advancement Hurdles
The journey in golf is a series of gates. You must open each one to proceed.
- Entry Gate: Meeting professional golfer entry standards (qualifying or exemption).
- The Cut Gate: Making the cut in golf after 36 holes (Top 60/70 and ties).
- The Season Gate: Maintaining tour card status golf through season-long points lists (FedEx Cup, etc.).
- The Elite Gate: Gaining entry and advancing through major championship qualifying structures.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many players usually make the cut on the PGA Tour?
Typically, the top 60 players and any ties after 36 holes advance to play the weekend rounds on the PGA Tour.
Can a tournament on the PGA Tour ever have no cut?
Yes, select invitationals or designated events sometimes opt to have no cut. This means every player who starts the tournament plays all four rounds.
What happens if there is a tie for the last spot to make the cut?
If there is a tie for the 60th position (or 70th, depending on the event), everyone tied at that number advances. This means more than 60 players can play on Saturday.
Does the cut rule change for the FedEx Cup Playoffs?
Yes, the structure changes significantly. The first playoff event cuts the field from 125 down to 70. The second playoff event cuts the field from 70 down to the Top 30 who play in the final Tour Championship.
What is the cut rule for the Masters Tournament?
The Masters cuts the field to the Top 50 players and ties after 36 holes. Importantly, any player within 10 strokes of the lead also makes the cut, ensuring the drama continues for those near the top, even if they are slightly further down the leaderboard.