The Cut in Golf and Why Tournaments Have Them
Most professional tournaments and some high-level amateur (stroke play) tournaments have cuts. The cut typically takes place following the second round of play in four-round (72-hole) and three-round (54-hole) tournaments. If a two-round (36-hole) event has a cut, it would happen following completion of the first round.
Exactly how many golfers are cut depends on how many players started the tournament, of course, and also on a given tournament's "cut rule." The cut rule is exactly what it sounds like: the parameters tournament organizers have set for making the cut. Usually, roughly the lower half of golfers (based on scores) who started the tournament are cut, with the top half continuing after the cut.
Getting cut is called "missing the cut," not getting cut is called "making the cut."
Not every pro tournament has a cut. Those that don't are often referred to as "no-cut events." A no-cut tournament is typically one with a smaller starting number of golfers.
For examples of how the cut works in several specific (major championship) tournaments, see:
- Cut rule at The Masters
- U.S. Open cut rule
- British Open cut rule
- PGA Championship cut rule
- Cut rule at the U.S. Women's Open
Why Do (Some) Tournaments Use a Cut?
The fact that some tournaments that allow a smaller number of entrants don't use a cut gives a clue about why cuts often do take place: The cut is a way of managing field sizes for the final round(s) while still giving chances to a larger number of golfers to enter the event.In the earliest days of professional golf tournaments, going back to the 19th century, cuts were not employed. There was no need when only 20 or 30 or 60 golfers entered a tournament.
But as professional golf grew and the number of entrants grew with it, tournament organizers began seeing the need for a cut. More entrants meant more golfers who didn't really have a chance of winning after two rounds of play. And fewer entrants for the final round(s) meant a better flow around the golf course, a shorter window of play time, less time required from golfers and tournament officials, and an easier time for spectators to follow the contending players.
The British Open was first played in 1860, but a cut wasn't used until 1898. The Masters was first played in 1934, but a cut wasn't introduced until 1957.
Once pro tournaments began appearing on television, the cut also became an important tool to help broadcasters. Narrowing the field at the midway point ensured the best golfers with the better chances of contending received all the airtime, and helped keep the broadcast windows on schedule.
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Sources:(Book titles are affiliate links; commissions earned)
Davies, Peter. The Historical Dictionary of Golfing Terms, 1993, Robson Books.
Mallon, Bill, and Jerris, Randon. Historical Dictionary of Golf, 2011, The Scarecrow Press Inc.
PGA of America. PGA Championship cut rule explained: Who makes the weekend, May 17, 2019, https://www.pga.com/archive/events/pgachampionship/pga-championship-cut-rule-explained-who-makes-weekend.
