Masters cut line 2023: Projected cut, rules, updates for Friday’s leaderboard
The field for the 2023 Masters Tournament is relatively small. Just 88 golfers were invited to tee it up at Augusta National, and two of them withdrew in Thursday’s first round.
That means that, after 36 holes, the majority of the field will play on Saturday, as the cut will include over half the players.
The cut line at Augusta has evolved over the years. It is more exclusive to accommodate the more exclusive field. Rather than taking, say, the top 65 (plus ties), the Masters cuts down to the top 50 (plus ties).
There were some impressive scores in the first round Thursday. Viktor Hovland, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm sat atop the leaderboard tied at 7 under. Jason Day and Cameron Young are tied for fourth at 5 under. Amateur Samuel Bennett, at 4 under, is tied with a host of players that include defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.
MORE: Will rain in Augusta forecast impact Friday’s Round 2 at the Masters?
Will Zalatoris and Kevin Na withdrew Thursday, shrinking the field to 86.
What is the projected cut line for 2023 Masters?
The cut line heading into Friday projects to be 1 over par through 36 holes. Rory McIlroy, Harold Varner III and 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir are at even par through 18.
Players outside the projected line include Tiger Woods, who shot a 2-over 74 on Thursday; Bryson DeChambeau and Sergio Garcia.
MORE: Complete Round 1 results, highlights for Tiger Woods at Masters
Bennett’s fellow amateur Gordon Sargent shot a 5-over 77 in Round 1, putting him in danger of missing the cut.
Here’s what to know about the Masters cut rules and where the cut stands heading into Friday.
Masters Tournament cut rules
Only the top 50 players (plus ties) will play on Saturday and Sunday. Masters officials put that hard limit in place in 2020 to keep the weekend field small.
Before the rule change, any player 10 or fewer strokes behind the leader after 36 holes advanced to Round 3 on Saturday in addition to the top 50 automatic qualifiers.
The new rule ensures the Masters cut is the most difficult of golf’s four majors. The top 60 players make the cut at the U.S. Open, while the top 70 players make the cut at the PGA Championship and the Open Championship.
MORE: Full Masters leaderboard
Masters 2023 cut line
The current cut line is 1 over par. It will move in the second round with the 50th-place player(s).
- Projected cut: 1 over par (145)
- Players inside cut line: 53
- Notable players outside the cut line: Tiger Woods (+2), Bryson DeChambeau (+2), Sergio Garcia (+2), Louis Oosthuizen (+4), Gordon Sargent (+5)
How many players make the cut at the Masters?
The initial 88- (now 86)-player field will be reduced to 50 (plus ties) after the conclusion of the second round.
Published at Fri, 07 Apr 2023 08:20:03 +0000
