Among the many things that will be different about this week’s Masters at Augusta compared to previous years will be the number of players taking part in the final two rounds.
In recent renewals those players who were within ten shots of the lead after two rounds would be guaranteed 36 more holes at the weekend. However, following a change in the rules, that will no longer be the case, and instead only the top 50 players and ties will make the cut, regardless of how far behind the leaders they are.
The decision was not made on the basis of there being less available daylight in November compared to the Masters’ traditional April date, but more to do with a long-term desire for a more exclusive field over the weekend. Had this new rule been in effect last year, nine fewer players would have made the cut, while 65 players made the cut in 2019, the most in the history of the tournament.
The Augusta committee last made a change to its cut policy in 2013, when the criteria changed from the top 44 and ties (plus those within 10 shots) to the top 50 and ties.
With a smallest field of the four men’s majors, the Masters has always had the fewest players make the cut. The Open Championship and PGA Championship determine the cut by the top 70 and ties, while the US Open uses the top 60 and ties. Those three tournaments all have fields of 156 players.
A total of 96 players qualified for this week’s Masters, up from 87 last year. However, that number has already dropped to 92, with former champion Sergio Garcia and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann withdrawing due to a positive COVID-19 test, while past champions Trevor Immelman and Angel Cabrera deciding not to play.
The 84th Masters takes place from November 12-15, with live TV coverage of all four rounds on Sky, and a late night highlights package on the BBC.