The Cut at the Golf Course

What is the "cut" in golf?

The cut is the point at which the number of players is reduced during a multi-round competition. In a typical four-round (72-hole) professional tournament, it occurs after the first two rounds, for a total of 36 holes. Players who make the cut advance to the weekend; the others are eliminated.

People say “make the cut” or “miss the cut.” The score that separates those who qualify from those who are eliminated is called the cut line (“cut line”). On the results sheets, a missed cut is often noted “MC” (missed the cut).

How is the cut determined?

In professional sports, the cut isn't a predetermined score: it's a ranking. The rules state that after 36 holes, the top X players and the ties qualify. The cut-off score is therefore calculated after the fact: it will be low if the course is easy, and higher if it’s windy or the course is very challenging.

Some examples of current rules:

These rules are specific to each tour and each event, and they change over time: in the Masters, for example, all players within 10 strokes of the leader used to qualify—a rule that has since been discontinued.

Why is there a cut?

• Organize the final rounds: Fewer players, which means tighter starting groups and games that end before nightfall.
• Focus the competition on the players still in the running for the win.
• Create a challenge starting in the second round, even for players who are far behind the leader.

Some tournaments are played uncut, generally those with a small field of players. In these tournaments, all participants play every round.

How does the cut affect the players?

For a professional, the stakes are primarily financial: as a general rule, only players who make the cut receive a share of the tournament prize money. Making the cut also allows players to earn points toward the tour rankings and the world rankings, which determine playing cards and invitations for the following season.

The cut also applies to amateur tournaments, particularly in Grand Prix events and championships played over multiple rounds: only the top-ranked players after the first few rounds advance to the final round.

How do you make the cut?

Players near the line watch it closely during their second shot. The key—for pros and amateurs alike—is the same:

• avoid high scores On a hole: a double bogey often costs more than a birdie is worth;
• play according to one's ranking: A player who is well above the cut has no reason to take risks, whereas a player who is just below the cut needs to go for birdies on the final holes.