What are the cut rules at The Open?
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How many players will reach the weekend at golf’s oldest major? Here’s everything you need to know about the Open Championship cut rules…
For those in the field with dreams of getting their name etched into the Claret Jug, the first step on that path is making it to the weekend. So, with that in mind, what are the Open Championship cut rules?
The Open is golf’s oldest championship and is held on some of the most famous links courses in the world.
Links golf is the game in its original and purest form, with players often left to battle the course, the elements and their competitors for glory.
The weather often turns ugly during an Open as strong winds and rain regularly arrive to wreak havoc. On occasion, though, the clouds do part to make way for blissfully blue skies and scorching sun.
As a result, the cut mark can fluctuate greatly from year to year. It’s this volatility that makes links golf so much fun to watch, and ahead of another edition, here are the cut rules.
Open Championship cut rules
The Open dates back to 1860 but it wasn’t until 1898 when a cut was introduced. There have been changes along the way, but the format has remained stable for some time now.
Of the 156 players who tee it up on Thursday for the first round, the top 70 and ties after 36 holes make it through to play in rounds three and four and go for glory.
At Royal Troon in 2024, the cut fell at 6-over-par as the Ayrshire venue showed its teeth with some ferocious winds that sent many of the game’s biggest names home early.
The highest the cut has been since the turn of the century was in 2008 at Birkdale when it went out to 9-over-par. In contrast, it was 1-under-par in 2006 when Tiger Woods won at a baked-out Hoylake.
The tournament heads back to Royal Portrush this year, where Shane Lowry sparked pandemonium with his victory in 2019.
In rather benign early conditions, the cut mark eventually fell at 1-over-par six years ago, but that counts for nothing when it comes to seaside golf.
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What are the Open Championship cut rules?
