Masters Cut Line – Who’s In, Who’s Out?

At major golfing championships like The Masters, which unfolds at Georgia’s Augusta National Golf Club (it’s the most prestigious golf tournament in the world), the players who make it to the weekend make the competition even more iconic and interesting. It’s the weekend that adds more appeal to the championship because that’s when all the magic and drama happen.

Golfers, excluding amateurs, who get through to the weekend are sure to reap the benefits of a rewarding payday. These professional players become a part of the elite level once they make the cut. They also receive the highly acclaimed green jacket, aside from the significant payday.

Such factors are serious motivators for golfers to achieve the best scores during the first and second rounds of the game/tournament. But how do players pass these first two rounds to make the cut? Read on for finding out every little detail about the Masters cut line.

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Which Golfers Make the Cut at The Masters Tournament?

According to the rules, the top 50 players after the completion of the second round get a slice of the weekend (this includes ties). So if, after round 2, 49 golfers score 4-over par or better and there are 10 more that score 5-over par, all of these 59 players make the cut.

How many golfers make the coveted Masters cut varies from one year to the next. It all depends on the number of players that tie on the cut line. For instance, in 2021, 54 golfers got through to the weekend at The Masters tournament.

It’s certainly a very stressful situation for professional players to keep a watch on the projected cut line when they themselves want to compete over the weekend.

Old Masters Cut Rules (Masters Cut Rules Through the Years)

It’s simple and straightforward – the top 50 players plus ties. But this was not the case before. The Masters tournament has seen multiple variations that determine the cut line. It’s primary because, every year, the number of golfers qualifying for the prestigious competition keeps increasing. Hence, the cut rules are subjected to adjustments or changes.

2014 to 2019 Masters Cut Rules

In the year of 2014, the cut line rules were redone to include the following:

• Top 50 players
• Ties
• Any golfer within 10 shots from the lead

1961 to 2013 Masters Cut Rules

Between 1961 and 2013, the cut rules allowed only the top 44 players and ties to progress into the dramatic and crucial weekend.

Pre-1961 Masters Cut Rules

Prior to 1961, the cut line consisted of the top 40 golfers plus ties after the first and second rounds.

Current Masters Cut Rules

According to the latest cut line rules of The Masters tournament, players that get to be a part of the weekend action are the top 50 golfers and ties. Whereas previously, it was the top 50 + ties + anyone within 10 strokes from the lead.

But adjusting the cut rules is only common if you take into consideration the history of the highly acclaimed Masters competition.

Until 1961, the cut included the top 40 players and ties. Then from that time on till 2013, the cut line expanded to include the top 44 plus ties plus golfers within 10 strokes of the leader. And between 2014 and 2019, it changed from top 44 to top 50 players, along with ties and those within 10 strokes.

Betting on the Cut Line

Golf bettors eagerly look forward to the cut line of The Masters tournament because it decides the results of head-to-head clashes. They bet on who will secure a spot on the weekend. And, needless to say, this settles the famous cut line prop bet.

For The Masters held in 2022, oddsmakers set the pre-event cut line as 147.5. 148 was the final cut number, in favor of Over bettors.

Which Players Have Made the Most Cuts at The Masters?

• Jack Nicklaus – 37 times
• Gary Player and Fred Couples – 30 times
• Raymond Floyd and Bernhard Langer – 27 times
• Phil Mickelson – 26 times
• Arnold Palmer and Ben Crenshaw – 25 times
• Tom Watson – 24 times
• Billy Casper – 23 times

Which Players Have Made the Most Cuts Consecutively at The Masters?

• Gary Player – 23 times from 1959 to 1982
• Fred Couples – 23 times from 1983 to 2007
• Tom Watson – 21 times from 1975 to 1995
• Tiger Woods – 21 times from 1997 to 2020
• Gene Littler – 19 times from 1961 to 1980
• Bernhard Langer – 19 times from 1984 to 2002
• Billy Casper – 18 times from 1960 to 1977
• Phil Mickelson – 17 times since 1998
• Bruce Devlin – 15 times from 1964 to 1981
• Jack Nicklaus – 15 times from 1968 to 1982
• Ben Crenshaw – 13 times from 1980 to 1992
• Nick Faldo – 13 times from 1979 to 1996
• Raymond Floyd – 13 times from 1973 to 1985
• Corey Pavin – 13 times from 1985 to 1998
• Justin Rose – 13 times from 2003 to 2018
• Adam Scott – 12 times from 2010 to 2021

Masters Cut Line FAQs

1. Does the Masters Have A Cut Line?

Ever since 1957, The Masters tournament has had a cut line.

2. What Was the Cut Line for the Masters in 2022?

For the 2022 Masters, the cut line was 148.

3. How to Determine the Cut Line at the Masters?

It includes the top 50 golfers plus ties after the first and second rounds of the competition.

4. How Many Players Made the Cut at the Masters in 2022?

There were 52 players in total who made the cut into the weekend of the 2022 Masters.

Conclusion

Back in 2014, from 2014 to 2019 to be more precise, the cut line rules dictated that the top 50 golfers plus ties plus any player within 10 strokes from the lead would play the weekend. But in 2020, Augusta National decided to make some changes, thus they eliminated the 10-stroke rule. And this has become the norm ever since.

For the U.S. Open, the cut line includes low 60 and ties that play all the rounds of the tournament. For PGA and Open Championships, the cut rule is for low 70 plus ties.

Because of the unfavorable soft conditions in the November of 2020 at Augusta, The Masters competition saw its lowest cut line – even-par 144. While the highest, at 154, was achieved in 1982. As for the average cut number at the Masters, it’s 148.4.