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why is there a secondary cut in golf

by Prof. Johnson Bergnaum III Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The secondary cut - introduced in 2008 to address large fields after the 36-hole cut and pace of play - has become increasingly unpopular. In 2014, the PGA Tour eliminated the secondary cut, which occurs if 78 players make the 36-hole cut, at the first two playoff stops.

The exact way the MDF works now (summer 2016) is that when 78 or more players make the cut after two rounds, a secondary cut (MDF) is used to reduce the number of players to as close as 70 as possible for Sunday's final round.

Full Answer

What is a secondary cut on the PGA Tour?

When at least 78 professionals (amateurs don't count) make the second-round cut at a PGA Tour event, the secondary cut kicks in, reducing the field after three rounds to the number nearest 70 as possible for the last round. That happened on Saturday at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

What happens if you make the cut on the PGA Tour?

(Here are the PGA Tour events without a cut .) In the event that 78 or more players make the 36-hole cut, then the PGA Tour had a secondary cut after 54 holes to reduce the field to the number nearest possible to 70 players. Those players who survived the secondary cut play the final round and had an opportunity to move up the leaderboard.

What is a cut in a golf tournament?

A golf tournament "cut" is the winnowing of the field to roughly half following, most commonly, the second round of play. A pro tournament, for example, that begins with 144 golfers might be cut to 70 golfers following 36 holes of play (those golfers who are cut stop playing; the remaining golfers continue to the next round).

What does it mean to have missed the cut in golf?

That further means that the second round ends with (typically) 154 golfers in the field, but the third round begins with only around 70 still playing. The golfers who failed to advance due to the cut rule are said to have " missed the cut ;" those that do advance " made the cut ."

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Are there two cuts for golf tournaments?

One, single cut is the standard in golf tournaments. But every now and then a tournament will employ a double cut, which means that the field gets cut a second time (also called a secondary cut).

Why is there a cut in golf tournament?

Fields in golf tournaments are larger than the total number of places paid out. A cut is used to determine which players will make it to play into the weekend and, in doing so, will qualify to receive a check from the tournament based on their place of finish.

What is the cut rule in golf?

The cut rule for regular PGA Tour events sees the top 70 advance to the weekend with the score of the 70th-placed player being the score needed to make the cut. Any player that is level with or above the 70th-placed player on the leaderboard makes the cut and plays the final two days of the tournament.

How does the cut work at the PGA Championship?

The PGA Championship has a cutline of the top-70 players (plus ties) after the first two rounds of play. This eliminates close to half of the field each year, while those who make the cut advance to play the third and fourth rounds on Saturday and Sunday. The actual number the cutline falls on varies each year.

What does MDF in golf mean?

made cut, didn't finishThe acronym MDF stands for “made cut, didn't finish,” and has been somewhat controversial since it was first used on the scoreboard in January 2008. The term does not relate to a player who withdraws during the third or fourth round because of injury or other reasons.

Does the Masters have a second cut?

The Masters is not a full-field golf event, as it only has 90-100 players in a given year. It's the smallest major on the golf calendar. Therefore, the cut has always been a little unique....Past Masters Cuts.YearCut LineMade Cut %2015+256.70%2016+664.05%2017+656.99%2018+560.92%18 more rows•Apr 8, 2022

How many make the cut at Augusta?

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.

Is a cut the same as a fade?

Are cut shots and fades the same thing? The two terms are often used interchangeably, and that's OK. There can be a difference of intent, however. "Fade" is a term applied to any moderate left-to-right ball movement (for a right-hander) in flight.

Did Phil make the cut?

Phil Mickelson was among the most popular golfers to miss the cut. Mickelson came into the week as one of the main storylines given his decision to join LIV Golf and the controversy surrounding that tour. His much-anticipated press conference Monday afternoon did him more harm than good.

Is there a second cut at the PGA Championship?

The PGA Championship instituted a cut when the tournament changed from a match-play to stroke-play format in 1958. Originally, however, the championship had a double cut, one after 36 holes and a second cut after 65 holes. The championship reverted back to a single 36-hole cut in 1965 and has had it ever since.

What is the cut rule at the Masters?

From 2013 to 2019, the cut included the top 50 players and ties, plus anyone within 10 strokes of the leader. The most recent cut rule change came in 2020 and is still in effect for 2022, with the low 50 players and ties qualifying for the final 36 holes.

Did Tiger miss the cut?

Tiger Woods missed the cut at the 93rd PGA Championship on Friday, only the third time in his career the 14-time major winner has failed to reach the last two rounds at a major tournament.

What is the cut rule for the PGA?

As of the 2019-2020 season, the cut rule is down to the top 65 players and ties, with those players getting to finish out the tournament. Before the 2018-2019 season, the PGA Tour cut rule was to the top 70 and ties after 36 holes. All players could finish the tournament, provided less than 78 players finishing inside the 36-hole cut line.

Does the FedEx Cup have a secondary cut?

The Northern Trust, the one FedEx Cup playoff event with a cut, did not offer a MDF. The secondary cut no longer exists. All players who make the 36-hole cut are paid according to the PGA Tour purse distribution guidance. However, not every PGA Tour event has a 36-hole cut line.

What is the cut rule in golf?

As noted, the standard cut rule applies to " regular" PGA Tour tournaments — those events that are not majors, not World Golf Championships tournaments nor other short-field tournaments, which have their own cut rules. Each of the four major championships of men's golf sets its own cut rule: Masters Cut Rule. U.S. Open Cut Rule.

How many holes are there in a second cut?

However, if that results in more than 78 golfers making the cut (due to many golfers being tied for 70th place), a second cut takes place after 54 holes , again to the low 70 scores plus ties. PGA Tour events are 72-hole tournaments, with 18 holes played per day.

What is the cut rule for PGA tournaments?

The standard cut rule used in "regular" PGA Tour tournaments (as opposed to major championships and several other tournaments that have their own, separate cut rule policies) is this: The field is cut after 36 holes to the low 70 scores plus ties. However, if that results in more than 78 golfers making ...

How many golfers are in the second round of the PGA Tour?

That further means that the second round ends with (typically) 154 golfers in the field, but the third round begins with only around 70 still playing. The golfers who failed to advance due ...

What is the third round cut on the PGA Tour?

The third-round cut is used at only a handful of tournaments per year on the PGA Tour. (The second cut is not used on any other tours.) There are exceptions to this cut rule, however, on the PGA Tour.

When was the last time the PGA cut rule was changed?

The PGA Tour Cut Rule Was Last Changed in 2016. The standard cut rule in place now on the PGA Tour has been in place since 2016, which is the year the last change was made to the tour's cut policy. However, in 2008, the tour introduced what came to be known as "Rule 78," a rule that proved quite controversial and resulted in a much larger overhaul ...

Does the British Open have a cut rule?

British Open Cut Rule. PGA Championship Cut Rule. The WGC (World Golf Championships) tournaments on the PGA Tour do not have cuts. The CIMB Classic—played in Malaysia with a field of only 78 to start—does not have a cut. Also, the tour's January winners-only tournament (currently named the Sentry Tournament of Champions) and ...

What is a cut in golf?

A cut is used to determine which players will make it to play into the weekend and, in doing so, will qualify to receive a check from the tournament based on their place of finish.

What is the cut line for PGA?

The standard cut line for a PGA event after two rounds is the score of the 65th lowest scoring professional. Any players that finish with that score or better are considered to have made the cut and continue play in the weekend rounds.

How many strokes does a golfer have to cut to make the weekend?

Some events utilize a 10-stroke cut rule, under which any player within 10 strokes of the leader after two rounds is permitted to make the weekend, even if the player ranks worse than 65th. This is primarily used in major tournaments, where the course is very difficult and a player who goes out and shoots a score in the mid-60s can climb through the field quickly.

What is the first cut of golf?

Updated January 02, 2019. "First cut" is a golf term that has two completely different and unrelated meanings. One refers to the rough on a golf course (the "first cut of rough") and the other refers to the trimming of golfers from a tournament field ("the first cut reduced the field from 100 golfers to 60").

How many cuts are there in golf?

Most golf tournaments have just one cut after 36 holes. But a handful have two cuts, a "first cut" after 36 holes and a "second cut" after 54 holes. These can also be called the primary cut and secondary cut.

How many golfers are cut in a pro tournament?

A pro tournament, for example, that begins with 144 golfers might be cut to 70 golfers following 36 holes of play (those golfers who are cut stop playing; the remaining golfers continue to the next round). Most golf tournaments have just one cut after 36 holes. But a handful have two cuts, a "first cut" after 36 holes and a "second cut" ...

Where is the golf ball on the fairway?

The golf ball sits on fairway grass and adjacent to the fairway is the first cut of rough. Outside the first cut is the second cut of rough. Jetta Productions/DigitalVision/Getty Images. Sports & Athletics. Golf.

Can you hit into the first cut of rough?

Hitting into the first cut of rough is not typically a huge problem for golfers, pro and amateur alike. For pro golfers, it can cause a little uncertainty about how "hot" the golf ball will come out, perhaps leading to a slight misjudge in distance control. But with today's equipment, pro golfers can usually still spin the ball well ...

Do you need to specify first cut in golf?

Rough is usually thought of as a punitive thing: miss the fairway, land in the rough, have a tougher next shot.) If a golf course has only one height of rough — and my golf courses do — there is no need to specify "first cut.". One would just refer to the rough in such cases. But if a golf course uses "graduated rough" or "step-cut rough" — meaning ...

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