Ever found yourself watching a golf tournament on a Friday afternoon, captivated by the drama as players fight to make it to the weekend? That high-stakes battle revolves around one of the most significant concepts in professional golf: the cut. Understanding the cut, when it happens, and what it means is essential for any golf fan and adds a layer of appreciation for the weekly pressure tour pros face. This guide will walk you through exactly what the cut is, how it’s determined across different tournaments, and why it plays such a pivotal role in the professional game.
Think of a standard 72-hole professional golf tournament as a four-day job interview. The cut is the performance review that happens after the first two days. It’s a mechanism used in most stroke-play events to reduce the size of the field for the final two rounds.
Only the players who have performed the best over the first 36 holes (the first two rounds) "make the cut" and advance to play on the weekend - Saturday and Sunday. Those who don’t score well enough "miss the cut." For them, the tournament is over. It’s a clean and sometimes brutal system that ensures the weekend is reserved for the players with a legitimate shot at winning the tournament or at least earning a significant paycheck.
In almost every standard professional tournament that runs from Thursday to Sunday, the cut is made after the completion of the second round, which is Friday. All players finish their 36 holes of play, the scores are tallied, and a "cut line" is established. Announcers will spend much of Friday’s television coverage tracking this imaginary line as it moves up and down with every birdie and bogey on the course.
On occasion, weather can disrupt this schedule. If darkness or a storm prevents the second round from finishing on Friday, players will have to return early Saturday morning to complete their rounds. Only once every player has finished their 36th hole will the cut officially be made, even if that happens on a Saturday.
This is where things get interesting. The cut line isn’t a pre-set number, it’s determined by player performance. The goal is to get a specific number of players qualified for the weekend, plus anyone tied at that score.
The PGA Tour uses the "Top 65 and ties" rule for most of its events. Here’s what that means:
Let's walk through an example:
This rule ensures that no player is unfairly eliminated for having the exact same score as someone who gets to continue playing.
The cut is not just a tradition, it serves several practical purposes for tournament organizers, broadcasters, and the players themselves.
A full tournament field is typically 144 or 156 players. Managing a group this large for four days is a logistical challenge. The rounds would be incredibly long, finishing late into the evenings. By trimming the field down to roughly half its size for the weekend, the pace of play improves significantly. Weekend rounds start later, finish earlier, and are easier to manage from an organizational standpoint. For television broadcasters, it's much simpler to provide coverage of a field of 70 players than a field twice that size.
The cut introduces a layer of intense competition right from the first tee shot on Thursday. Every stroke matters because missing the cut has a significant consequence: if you miss the cut, you don't get paid. Professional golfers cover their own travel, caddie fees, and lodging expenses for every tournament. Making the cut guarantees a paycheck, even if it's for last place among those who made it. This a an immense motivator and adds to the drama of the first two rounds.
It ensures that playing on the weekend is a privilege that has to be earned through solid performance.
The four men's major championships are the pinnacle of the sport, and three of them have their own distinct cut rules that differ from standard PGA Tour events. This makes them even more unique.
This is a popular phrase you'll often hear broadcasters use. A player who "makes the cut on the number" is one whose two-day total is the exact score of the cut line. For example, if the cut is +2, a player who shot 74-72 (+2) has made it right on the number. These are often the most nervous players, as they have to sit and wait all of Friday afternoon, hoping the line doesn't move one shot lower and knock them out.
Not all tournaments have a cut. Certain prestigious events are either invitational or part of a playoff series and feature smaller, more elite fields. In these tournaments, all players are guaranteed to play all four rounds and receive a paycheck. Examples include:
This is a rule you don't see anymore on the PGA Tour, but it’s an interesting piece of golf history. Until a few years ago, if more than 78 players made the 36-hole cut, there would be a *secondary* cut after Saturday's third round to trim the field down to the top 70 and ties. Those who were eliminated on Saturday received an "MDF" next to their name. The tour has since abolished this rule, simplifying the process to a single cut on Friday regardless of how many players advance.
The Friday cut is a defining feature of professional tournament golf, adding a layer of drama that separates the players in form from those who are struggling. It ensures that the weekend is a showcase of the best performers, all of whom have already cleared one significant hurdle simply by earning their spot to play the final 36 holes.
Understanding tournament nuances like the a makes watching them more engaging, but putting professional strategy to use in your own rounds is what really makes a difference. For those times you're facing a tricky lie or you're stuck between clubs, we built Caddie AI to give you personalizedadvice in seconds. You can ask for a full-hole strategy from the tee, get a recommendation for an approach shot, or even snap a photo of a poor lie in the rough to instantly learn the smartest way to play it. We believe having that expert second opinion removes uncertainty and helps you commit to every shot with confidence.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
