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How does the cut work at The Masters?

By Cody Williams

Apr 5, 2022; Augusta, Georgia, USA; A Masters flag pin on the no. 13 green during a practice round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2022; Augusta, Georgia, USA; A Masters flag pin on the no. 13 green during a practice round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Masters is a different breed of golf tournament in every capacity, including the cut. How does the cut work at Augusta?

In every full-field event on the PGA Tour, most golf fans know what the deal is with the cut line. For a regular tournament, it’s the top 65 players and ties after 36 holes that make it to the weekend to try and make a run at the trophy. The Masters, however, offers something different.

While it’s arguably the most vaunted tournament in the world, the trip to Augusta isn’t a full-field event. In fact, it’s extremely limited. For the 2022 event, only 91 players were in the field among the azaleas.

Most limited-field tournaments don’t have a cut, but Augusta National Golf Club still has one. Considering there are only 91 players (or around there in a given year) on the docket, though, how then does the Masters cut work?

Masters cut line: How many players make the cut at Augusta?

Well, it’s quite simple. For a limited field, that means there’s an even stricter cut line when it comes to Augusta.

Only the top 50 players and ties after 36 holes will make the cut at The Masters, a line that was actually set when the event was played in November in 2020 after April’s classic was postponed due to the onset of COVID-19.

Prior to that, the rule for several years was that the top 50 players and ties and any golfer within 10 strokes of the leader would make the cut. The latter amendment was dropped in 2020 and remains in place. Going back even further, the rule for more than four decades was top 44 players and ties along with anyone within 10 strokes of the leader.

All of this is to say that the current Masters cut line of top 50 and ties is actually the bigger deviation from the longtime norm at the tournament than anything else. However, it does add another unique wrinkle to Augusta, furthering how special the tournament is.

Next. The Masters expert picks, best bets for Augusta National Golf Club. dark

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