In professional golf, the number of players who make the cut after the first two rounds usually depends on the size of the field and the specific tournament regulations, but generally, the top 65 players and ties advance to play the weekend rounds.
The cut rule in golf is a fascinating, often nerve-wracking aspect of professional tournaments. It separates the contenders from those going home early. It’s not a fixed number; it shifts based on how many golfers start the event. Knowing how the golf tournament cut line is set is key to following any major championship or weekly tour event. This article will dive deep into the mechanics of this crucial threshold.
The Basics of The Golf Cut
In most standard professional golf events, the tournament runs for four rounds (72 holes). However, only a portion of the starting field gets to play the final two rounds. This separation happens after the second round (Thursday and Friday). The process of determining the cut in golf is designed to ensure the final weekend features the best-performing players.
What Defines the Cut Line?
The cut line is the score required to continue playing. If a player’s score after 36 holes is equal to or better than the cut line score, they make the cut. If they are worse than the cut line, their tournament ends.
This score is not predetermined like a fixed par score. Instead, it is set based on the performance of the entire field during the first two rounds.
PGA Tour Cut Rules: A Detailed Look
The PGA Tour cut rules are perhaps the most well-known globally. They operate under a set of established guidelines designed to maintain competitive balance and excitement.
Standard Cut Number
For most regular PGA Tour events, the standard rule is:
- The low 65 players and ties advance.
This means if the 65th best score is, for example, 2-under par, everyone tied with a score of 2-under or better proceeds. If there are ties at that number, everyone tied moves forward. This can sometimes lead to a large number of players making the cut.
Handling Large Fields
When a tournament has a very large starting field—perhaps over 144 players—the PGA Tour sometimes employs a secondary cut. This helps thin the field further for the weekend rounds.
Secondary Field Cut Rule
If the field is large, the rule can change to:
- The low 70 players and ties advance.
This is less common but used in major team events or specific high-profile tournaments where balancing the weekend field size is important. The goal is to keep the final rounds moving efficiently.
The Two-Stroke Rule Variation
Sometimes, the standard 65-and-ties rule can result in too many players advancing, making the weekend rounds crowded. To manage this, the PGA Tour utilizes the “two-stroke rule” variation.
If more than 78 players make the cut under the 65-and-ties criteria, the cut shifts. The rule then becomes:
- All players within two strokes of the leader’s score advance.
This ensures the field shrinks significantly if the scoring is very tight at the top. This mechanism keeps the professional golf cut percentage manageable.
European Tour Cut Structure: A Comparison
The European Tour cut structure (now known as the DP World Tour) often differs slightly from the PGA Tour, though similarities exist. For many years, the European Tour maintained a stricter cut.
Traditional European Tour Cut
Historically, the European Tour often used a fixed number close to 70 players, often without the immediate application of the two-stroke rule seen on the PGA Tour.
However, recent changes have brought the DP World Tour closer to the PGA Tour standard to maintain global alignment. Many flagship events now adopt the 65 and ties format.
No-Cut Events
A significant difference is the prevalence of “no-cut” events on the DP World Tour, especially in high-prestige or high-prize-money tournaments. In these events, every player who starts the tournament plays all four rounds, regardless of their initial performance. This is common in events co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour, like the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Determining The Cut in Golf: The Score Calculation
How is that magic number—the qualifying score in golf—actually established? It all comes down to arithmetic after 36 holes are complete.
Step 1: Tallying the Scores
After every player has completed their second round, all 36-hole scores are recorded.
Step 2: Applying the Rule
The tournament committee applies the pre-announced cut rule (usually 65 and ties).
Step 3: Identifying the Threshold
The scores are ranked from lowest (best) to highest (worst). The score achieved by the player in the 65th position becomes the baseline score.
Step 4: Inclusion of Ties
Every player whose 36-hole score matches that 65th-place score automatically advances. This is crucial because ties often inflate the number of players who advance in golf.
Example Scenario:
| Rank | Player Score | Cut Status (Rule: 65 & Ties) |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | -4 | Advance |
| 61 | -3 | Advance |
| 62 | -2 | Advance |
| 63 | -2 | Advance (Tie) |
| 64 | -2 | Advance (Tie) |
| 65 | -1 | Advance (Threshold Player) |
| 66 | -1 | Advance (Tie) |
| 67 | E | Miss Cut |
In this example, even though only 65 players were initially targeted, 67 players make the cut because three players tied at -2 and two players tied at -1 with the 65th ranked player.
The “Making The Cut in Golf” Pressure
For professional golfers, the first two days are often as stressful as the weekend. Earning a paycheck and securing world ranking points hinges entirely on making the cut in golf.
Financial Implications
In most standard events, only players who make the cut receive prize money. This money is distributed across the players who finished 1st through the last player who made the cut, based on predetermined payout structures. For a player on the edge of the cut line, making it can mean the difference between covering tournament expenses and losing money for the week.
World Ranking and FedEx Cup Points
FedEx Cup points (on the PGA Tour) and Race to Dubai points (DP World Tour) are awarded based on finishing position. Missing the cut yields zero points and zero official earnings for that week. Securing a spot for Saturday and Sunday is vital for maintaining status and improving world rankings.
The Hardship of The Missed Cut
Missing the cut means a player’s tournament is over early Friday evening. They pack their bags and travel to the next scheduled event. This early exit is why players often aim conservatively for even par or slightly better to ensure they are safely inside the threshold.
When scoring is extremely difficult, such as during harsh weather or on extremely long, difficult courses, the qualifying score in golf can be high (e.g., 4-over par).
When The Cut Line Disappears: No-Cut Events
As noted, some tournaments eliminate the cut entirely. These are often referred to as “no-cut” events.
Why Eliminate The Cut?
- High Field Strength: If the tournament features the top 50 or 70 players in the world, organizers feel every competitor warrants four rounds of exposure.
- Logistics: In smaller fields (say, 78 players), there is little need to thin the pack. Playing a full four rounds is simpler logistically.
- Sponsor Appeal: Sometimes sponsors prefer that all invited stars play the weekend, guaranteeing visibility across all four days.
In these scenarios, every player tees off on Saturday and Sunday, creating a continuous leaderboard rather than a weekend reboot. This structure is common in high-profile events like the Sentry Tournament of Champions or certain World Golf Championships events of the past.
Secondary Field in Golf and The Cut
The concept of a secondary field in golf usually refers to fields outside the primary tour. Think of lower developmental tours (like the Korn Ferry Tour) or events happening concurrently on smaller circuits.
The cut rules on these tours tend to be simpler and sometimes harsher:
- Korn Ferry Tour: Usually employs the 65 and ties rule, similar to the PGA Tour.
- Mini-Tours: Often use smaller advancement numbers, sometimes cutting to the top 50 or fewer, depending on the size of the entry list.
The relationship between the primary tours and these secondary circuits is that strong performance in the secondary field often leads to promotion onto the main tour, meaning every cut made there is crucial for career progression.
The Impact of Weather and Course Difficulty
The difficulty of the course and the weather profoundly affect the after two rounds cut golf results.
Difficult Conditions
If rain, high winds, or extremely fast green speeds make scoring tough, the overall scores will drift higher. If the leader shoots even par (0), and the tournament uses the two-stroke rule because too many players made the 65-man cut, the cut line will settle at +2.
Easy Conditions
If the course yields low scores—perhaps a par-72 course sees the leader shoot 14-under par—the 65th position might fall to 4-under par. If the 65th player is at -4, but the 75th player is at -3, the two-stroke rule might kick in, moving the cut line down to -12 to thin the field to 78 players.
This flexibility is why simply knowing the leader’s score isn’t enough; you must know the official cut criteria for that specific tournament.
Modern Adaptations and Future Trends
The structure surrounding the cut is always under review by governing bodies like the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, often driven by broadcast schedules and player feedback.
Fewer Cuts in Big Events
In recent years, major championships (The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, The Open Championship) have stuck rigidly to the 65 and ties rule, sometimes leading to fields of 75 to 85 players advancing. There is generally no “two-stroke thinning” mechanism used in the Majors. The focus remains on historical precedent and rewarding everyone who breaks par or is close to the lead score.
Focus on Top 70
There is a growing trend, especially outside of the Majors, to simplify the cut to simply the top 70 and ties, regardless of the initial field size, provided the field is large enough (over 132 players). This creates a cleaner separation between those playing for the win and those just trying to secure earnings.
Summary of Advancement Numbers
To clarify the typical scenarios for how many players make the cut in golf:
| Tournament Type | Standard Cut Rule Applied | Potential Maximum Advancers |
|---|---|---|
| Regular PGA Tour Event | Low 65 and Ties | Varies (Can exceed 78) |
| Regular PGA Tour Event (If >78 make cut) | Two Strokes from Leader | Capped near 78 |
| Major Championships | Low 65 and Ties | Typically 70-85 |
| DP World Tour (Standard) | Low 65 and Ties (or similar) | Varies |
| DP World Tour (Selected Events) | No Cut | Full Starting Field |
Conclusion
The cut rule is a dynamic element of professional golf. It ensures that while every player who qualifies has a chance to compete, the final rounds of a tournament focus on those who performed best over the first 36 holes. Whether it’s the strict 65-and-ties approach of the PGA Tour or the occasional no-cut event on the DP World Tour, the process of determining the cut in golf remains a suspenseful part of every Friday afternoon scoreboard review.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What happens if there is a tie for the 65th position?
If there is a tie at the 65th position, all players tied at that score make the cut. This means the final number of players moving on to the weekend can be higher than 65.
Do players get paid if they miss the cut?
Generally, no. Only players who complete the second round and whose score meets or beats the cut line receive prize money. Missing the cut means the player earns nothing for that tournament.
Does the cut rule change for every tournament?
The core rules (like 65 and ties) remain constant for the PGA Tour, but secondary rules, such as the two-stroke variation, can be triggered based on the number of players who make the initial cut. Major Championships and DP World Tour events may have slightly different default settings.
What is the lowest score a player can shoot and still miss the cut?
This depends entirely on the course and the performance of the entire field. If the course is extremely difficult and the leader is at Even Par, the cut line might be 4-over par. If a player shoots 5-over par, they miss the cut. Conversely, if scores are low, a player shooting 5-under par could still miss the cut if 65 players shot 6-under par or better.
Are there ever first-round cuts in golf?
While highly unusual in modern professional golf, some amateur or very small developmental events might employ a first-round cut to drastically reduce the field size quickly. However, on the PGA Tour or DP World Tour, the cut always occurs after 36 holes (two rounds).