The 2026 Masters is underway, and the leaderboard is already taking shape, while some notable names will be fighting to make the cut.
The top 50 players and ties determine the cut line, and after play on Thursday, the line is +3. However, the cut line could be changed throughout the day, so for many players, just making it to the weekend is key, which is why Friday is always a great day of golf.
The Masters cut rule changed for the first time since 2014, as for the longest time, the cut line was anybody within 10 shots of the lead. However, the tournament decided to make it the top 50 players and ties, which has resulted in roughly 40 golfers being cut each tournament.
What is The Projected Masters Cut Line?
As the second round of The Masters is underway, the projected cut line is +3.
Currently, there are six golfers on the cut line at +3, while there are several notable golfers below the cut line who need to have a good round on Friday to make the weekend.
Although the Masters cut line is the top 50 and ties, the field is only 91 golfers, so over half the golfers will make the cut.
The other three majors, the British Open Championship and PGA Championship, cut to the top 70 and ties. The US Open, meanwhile, cut to the top 60 and ties, but those fields are all 156 players, whereas the Masters is only 91.
Notable Players Near Cut Line
The Masters cut line will remain fluid throughout the day, but there are plenty of notable players around and below the cut line.
Some notable players after Round 1 that could miss out on playing the weekend are as follows, with their tee time in brackets.
- J.J. Spaun: +2 (9:31 a.m.)
- Ludvig Aberg: +2 (9:43 a.m.)
- Cameron Smith: +2 (12:27 p.m.)
- Collin Morikawa: +2 (1:32 p.m.)
- Zach Johnson: +3 (8:14 a.m.)
- Viktor Hovland: +3 (1:56 p.m.)
- Bubba Watson: +4 (12:15 p.m.)
- Bryson DeChambeau: +4 (1:20 p.m.)
- Sungjae Im: +4 (7:40 a.m.)
- Min Woo Lee: +6 (8:50 a.m.)
- Jon Rahm: +6 (9:43 a.m.)
- Rasmus Højgaard: +6 (11:51 a.m.)
- Brian Harman: +7 (8:38 a.m.)
Only one amateur is currently above the cut line in Ethan Fang, who shot a 2-over 72, but did bogey his opening hole in the second round.
DeChambeau & Rahm on Verge of Missing Cut
With the cut line at +3, there are plenty of notable golfers who may not make the weekend.
Bryson DeChambeau, who played in the final pairing a year ago, is at +4 and tees off at 10:20 a.m. ET. DeChambeau had a frustrating opening round of 76, and he said he had to hit his irons better.
“Just going to give what the golf course gives me,” DeChambeau said after his opening round 76. “I have to try to hit my irons better. I drove it left numerous occasions. Did a great job on 18. Wind didn’t hurt it like we thought, and that’s this game. That’s the golf course. You know, everybody has an ability for weird things to happen, and today I just did not have my irons under control, which is weird. It’s been good coming into it, so.”
2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm, meanwhile, looks like he’ll be on his way to missing the cut as he enters Round 2 at +6.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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