Augusta National announced a new 36-hole cut procedure for this year’s tournament.
Only the low 50 scores and ties will make the cut after Friday’s second round. From 2013-19, it was low 50 and ties, as well as those within 10 shots of the lead.
The cut was first instituted in 1957, for the low 40 and ties. In 1962, that number grew to the low 44, ties and those within 10 shots of the lead.
Gary Player and Fred Couples share the record for most cuts made in a row – 23.
MASTERS: Second-round tee times | Leaderboard | How to watch
Player’s streak went from 1959 to 1982 (he sat out 1973 because of a medical issue), while Couples compiled his mark from 1983-2007.
Competitors who miss the cut are welcome to stick around Augusta National and watch the weekend action, but most professionals choose to move on.
That is unless they happen to be the defending champion, who is required to help the winner slip into his green jacket at the conclusion of play.
[vertical-gallery id=778074351]
Jack Nicklaus missed the cut in 1967 after winning in both 1965 and 1966. That earned him the lead headline the next day in The Augusta Chronicle with “Golden Bear muffs cutoff by a stroke.” Rounds of 72 and 79 derailed his attempt at a third consecutive win.
“There’ll be another day,” said Nicklaus, who became the first defending champ to miss the cut. “The world isn’t going to change that much just because this happened to me.”
[jwplayer 7NBaZ2A0-9JtFt04J]