If you're watching the early rounds of The Open Championship, you will constantly hear the commentators talking about the cut. Making it or missing it can define a player's week, their payday, and even their season. This article explains exactly what the cut is in The Open, how the rule works, and why it adds so much pressure and drama to golf's oldest major.
In simple terms, the cut is a performance threshold used in professional golf tournaments to reduce the number of players for the final two rounds. After every golfer has completed 36 holes (two full rounds of play), only those with scores good enough to meet the "cut" get to continue playing on the weekend. Everyone else packs their bags and goes home.
Why do they do this? There are three main reasons:
While the concept of a cut is universal in stroke-play events on major professional tours, the exact rule can differ from one tournament to another. Each of golf's four major championships has its own specific cut rule.
At The Open Championship, the rule is straightforward: the top 70 players, plus anyone tied for 70th place, advance to the final two rounds.
Here’s how that plays out:
For example, if the score of the players tied at 70th place is one-over-par (+1) at the end of Friday’s play, the cut line is set at +1. Every player at +1, even-par, or any under-par score will play on Saturday and Sunday. A player at +2 would miss the cut by one shot.
A key detail is the "and ties" part of the rule. If ten players are tied for 70th place, all ten of them make the cut. This means the weekend field often features more than 70 players.
Understanding The Open's rule is clearer when you see how it differs slightly from the other majors:
The "cut line" is a dynamic number. Throughout the day on Friday, it's a "projected" line that can shift up or down with every score posted. One player making a bogey can move the line, potentially letting dozens of other golfers back into the tournament. Another player making a late birdie can push it down, knocking others out.
This creates immense pressure for players on the course in the afternoon. Imagine standing on your 36th hole of the tournament knowing you need to make a par to play the weekend. Your hands are sweating, your heart is pounding, and the outcome of that one hole determines whether you get paid and have a chance at glory or if you're booking an early flight home. Golfers who miss the cut, especially on the last hole, are often called "trunk slammers" - a term for their frustrating early departure.
For fans, making the cut simply means we get to watch our favorite players on the weekend. But for the golfers themselves, it means so much more.
The history of The Open is filled with stories of cut-line drama. Players can build a legendary status not just by winning, but by showing grit to make it to the weekend.
One of the most memorable recent examples was in 2009 at Turnberry. A 59-year-old Tom Watson, decades past his prime, wasn't just flirting with the cut line, he was near the top of the leaderboard. He played magnificently to not only make the cut comfortably but to play his way into the final pairing on Sunday. While he famously lost in a playoff, his performance captivated the world and showed that the challenge of making the cut respects no age.
Conversely, even the biggest names feel the heat. Superstars like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and Jordan Spieth have all missed the cut at The Open when they were expected to contend, proving that no one is immune to the pressure of golf's oldest championship.
Watching the cut sweat live is one of the most exciting aspects of following The Open. Here’s how you can keep up with the action:
When the last putt drops on Friday evening, the cut becomes official, and the stage is set for a weekend of golf to decide who will be named the Champion Golfer of the Year.
In short, the cut at The Open is the 36-hole checkpoint where the field is trimmed to the top 70 players and ties, turning a massive field of hopefuls into a weekend battle for the Claret Jug among the week's best performers.
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