Masters Cut Line Explained As Tournament Nears Weekend
Masters Cut Line Explained As Tournament Nears Weekend...
The Masters Tournament cut line is trending today as golf fans track which players will advance to the weekend at Augusta National. The 2026 event enters its second round Friday, with the top 50 players (plus ties) making the cut after 36 holes.
This year's cut rule differs slightly from standard PGA Tour events, where the top 65 typically advance. The Masters' unique 50-player threshold creates added drama, especially with several big names hovering near the projected cut line of +3 as of Friday morning.
Tiger Woods' quest to make his record 24th consecutive Masters cut has drawn particular attention. The 50-year-old legend sits at +1 after Thursday's opening round, putting him in solid position to continue his streak. Other notable players facing cut pressure include defending champion Scottie Scheffler (+2) and rising star Ludvig Ã…berg (+3).
Augusta National's challenging conditions have contributed to higher scores this year. Thursday's first round saw only 11 players break par, with Bryson DeChambeau leading at -5. The firm, fast greens and swirling winds have made scoring difficult, increasing the likelihood that the cut line could move to +4 by day's end.
For players who miss the cut, the consequences extend beyond pride. Only those making the weekend receive official prize money and FedEx Cup points. The Masters awards prize money down to 50th place, with last year's cut makers earning at least $43,000.
Television coverage intensifies Saturday when the field shrinks to contenders. CBS will broadcast weekend rounds to what's typically golf's largest annual audience. The cut drama helps explain why searches for "Masters cut" have spiked 380% on Google since Thursday evening.
Augusta National officials monitor weather closely when setting pin positions that could influence the cut line. Forecasts call for warmer temperatures Friday, which may soften greens and lead to lower scores. The last groups tee off at 2:00 PM ET, with the cut becoming official around 7:30 PM.
Fans can follow real-time cut line updates on Masters.com and through the tournament's official app. The leaderboard refreshes every 15 minutes, showing players' positions relative to the projected cut throughout Friday's action.
