Ever watched the Friday coverage of the Australian Open and noticed some of your favorite golfers suddenly vanish from the leaderboard? That’s not a broadcast glitch, it’s the dramatic and often brutal reality of the tournament ‘cut’. This article will explain exactly how the cut works at this iconic event, why it’s a critical moment for every professional, and how the tournament's unique format adds another layer of excitement to the weekend.
Before we get into the Australian Open specifics, let's break down the basic concept. Think of a professional golf tournament as a week-long journey. For the first two days, Thursday and Friday, a large field of players - often around 150 - competes against each other and the course. The 'cut' happens after those initial 36 holes are complete.
In simple terms, the cut is a performance threshold. Only the players who have scored well enough to meet or exceed this threshold get to "make the cut" and continue playing on Saturday and Sunday. The rest of the field is "cut" from the tournament. Their week is over, and they don't get a chance to compete for the prize money.
It’s the tournament’s way of saying, “Alright, you’ve all had two rounds to prove yourselves. Now, only the best performers for the week so far will advance.” This thinning of the herd serves a few important purposes:
From a coach’s standpoint, the cut is the first major mental hurdle of the week. Surviving it is the initial goal for every player who isn’t a regular top-10 finisher. It guarantees a paycheck and provides the opportunity to make a run up the leaderboard over the weekend.
The Australian Open, co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the DP World Tour, follows a standard and straightforward cut procedure. After the first 36 holes of play are complete, the field is trimmed down significantly.
The rule is the top 60 players and any players tied at that score make the cut and advance to the weekend rounds.
For example, if the 60th-place player is at a score of one-over-par (+1) after two rounds, every player at +1 will make the cut. This could mean 60 players advance, or it could be 65, 70, or even more, depending on how many players are tied on that specific score.
Unlike some tournaments in the past that have used a secondary "Made cut, did not finish" (MDF) rule to reduce the field further on Saturday if too many players made the initial cut, the Australian Open keeps it simple. Once you’re in on Friday, you’re in for the entire weekend.
What makes the Australian Open particularly fascinating in recent years is its groundbreaking format. It is one of the only professional tournaments in the world where the men’s national open (ISPS Handa Australian Open), the women’s national open (Vic Open), and the Australian All Abilities Championship (AAAC) play at the same time and on the same courses for the first two rounds.
So, how does the cut work in this exciting format? It’s simply applied independently to each field.
This means Friday is an electrifying day with three different cut lines being determined simultaneously. Players and fans are watching scores across multiple leaderboards, adding to the tension and complexity of the day.
After this massive cut day, the players who have advanced from all three championships move to a single host course for the weekend, creating a celebration of golf unlike any other.
As a coach, Friday is one of the most nerve-wracking days. And it all revolves around one thing: the "cut line."
The cut line isn't a pre-determined number like par. It’s the dynamic, ever-changing score that represents the 60th-place position at any given moment. This hypothetical line moves up and down throughout the day based on the overall performance of the field. Easy course conditions with less wind might see the cut line fall to -2 or -3. Tough, windy weather could see it rise to +3 or +4.
This is where the real drama unfolds. Let's see how it plays out:
Imagine a player, let’s call him David, one of my students. He’s in the morning wave of players on Friday. He shoots a solid round and finishes his 36 holes at Even par. When he walks off the 18th green, the projected cut line is +1. He feels great - a little breathing room.
He goes to lunch, does his post-round-practice, and keeps an eye on the scores. But then, the wind dies down for the afternoon wave. The fresh greens become more receptive, and players start making birdies. The leaderboard fills with red numbers. The cut line slowly creeps down… from +1 to Even par… then to -1.
Suddenly, David’s comfortable position has evaporated. He spends the next three hours watching the scores, his fate completely out of his hands. He's what players call "on the bubble" or "sweating the cut." A single bogey by a player on the course a hole from finishing could be the difference between David getting a paycheck or packing his bags.
For players still on the course, knowing where the cut line is can dramatically affect their decisions. A player who knows they are safely inside the number might play the difficult finishing holes more conservatively, aiming for the middle of the green instead of at a tucked pin.
Conversely, a player who is outside the projected cut line with a few holes to play has to get aggressive. A reachable par-5 that they might normally lay up on becomes a must-go-for-it-in-two situation. They need to find a way to make a birdie or an eagle, and they'll take on a higher risk to do it. This "backs-against-the-wall" scenario creates some of the most exciting and heartbreaking moments in golf.
Beyond the logistics, the cut has a profound impact on a player’s livelihood and mindset.
For the vast majority of touring professionals, making the cut is everything. Making the cut means Cashing a cheque. Missing the cut means you get paid exactly nothing. In fact, after paying for flights, hotels, entrance fees, and your caddie’s salary for the week, missing a cut results in a financial loss.
A string of missed cuts can be demoralizing and financially crippling. The pressure to simply "get to the weekend" is immense and can sometimes cause players to play defensively rather than freely, ironically leading to poor performance.
From a coaching perspective, making cuts is about building momentum and a sense of belonging. Each made cut reinforces the belief that you are good enough to compete at this level. Missing cuts can plant seeds of doubt. The cycle is often self-fulfilling - confident players tend to make more cuts, and players who consistently make cuts become more confident.
That little "MC" (Missed Cut) next to your name Stings but it is motivation. What did you learn and how can you improve.
Once Friday’s play is complete and the cut line is official, the tournament transforms.
So, the next time you're watching the Australian Open, pay close attention to the action on Friday afternoon. It's not just another round of golf, it's a high-stakes battle for survival where every shot matters and dreams for the week are made or broken against the unforgiving cut line.
The cut at the Australian Open is a thrilling and essential tournament feature, reducing the large men's and women's fields to the top 60 and ties after 36 holes. This Friday drama creates immense pressure, impacting player strategy and financials, while setting the stage for a spectacular weekend showcasing the golfers who performed best under the gun.
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