Open Championship Cut Rule: How Many Players Make The Weekend At Royal Troon?

While the score at which the cut is determined can change significantly year-upon-year, the rule which decides how many players make it through remains consistent...

A close-up of a 152nd Open Championship flag at Royal Troon
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Over 150 players begin the final men's Major of the season with lofty ambitions and dreams of stamping their names into golfing folklore with an Open Championship victory in the country where golf is believed to have originated, Scotland.

But for some, those hopes will be dashed all too early and they will have to wait at least several more months before having another crack.

Of all four men's Majors, The Open presents the most likely chance that golfers will compete in all four days, however. The Masters is the strictest with just the top-50 and ties making it through, while the US Open is 60 and ties and the PGA Championship is the top-65 and ties.

The Open Championship cut ensures that the top-70 players and ties make it through to the weekend to battle it out for the famed Claret Jug. That means, of the 158 competitors that begin with high hopes on Thursday, around half are sent packing after 36 holes. 

Up until 1985, The Open made two cuts - one after the second round and another after the third round. But the rules were changed the following year, leaving just one cut after 36 holes.

Paul Lawrie

Paul Lawrie won The Open in 1999 despite starting the final round 10 shots back

(Image credit: Getty Images)

There is no 10-shot rule at The Open either, which was a common system utilised in various tournaments in the past, but it is no longer a feature in the Majors. Quite simply, the 10-shot rule meant that golfers within 10 strokes of the lead made the cut, no matter what position they were in. The highest number of players to make it through to the weekend was 113 at the 1991 Open at Royal Birkdale.

Given the vagaries of links golf, the cut mark can vary dramatically from year to year. At last year's 151st Open at Royal Liverpool, it fell at three-over, with 76 players progressing to the weekend and the likes of Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley, and Joaquin Niemann narrowly missing out.

It's not all bad news though, as everyone who tees it up in The Open receives a share of the prize money on offer, which has been increased to $16.5 million for 2023.

The top-10 players who don't make the weekend at Troon will still get $12,350 as a consolation. The next 20 will receive $10,300, while everyone else will walk away with $8,750 just for making it to The Open.

The Open Cut Line History

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The Open Cut Line History Since 2000
YearCut LineChampion (Score)
2023+3Brian Harman (-13)
2022ECameron Smith (-20)*
2021+1Collin Morikawa (-15)
2020N/AN/A
2019+1Shane Lowry (-15)
2018+3Francesco Molinari (-8)
2017+5Jordan Spieth (-12)
2016+4Henrik Stenson (-20)*
2015EZach Johnson (-15)
2014+2Rory McIlroy (-17)
2013+8Phil Mickelson (-3)
2012+3Ernie Els (-7)
2011+3Darren Clarke (-5)
2010+2Louis Oosthuizen (-16)
2009+4Stewart Cink (-2)
2008+9Padraig Harrington (+3)
2007+4Padraig Harrington (-7)
2006-1Tiger Woods (-18)
2005+1Tiger Woods (-14)
2004+3Todd Hamilton (-10)
2003+8Ben Curtis (-1)
2002+2Ernie Els (-6)
2001+2David Duval (-10)
2000ETiger Woods (-19)

* Lowest tournament score to par

Jonny Leighfield
Staff Writer

Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and is hoping to reach his Handicap goal of 18 at some stage. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.

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