Los Angeles— Last year, while plans were being formed for eight $20 million “signature events” with limited fields for 2024.
There was a hitch that needed to be smoothed out on Zoom calls and board-room meetings at PGA Tour headquarters. Would all of these tournaments be no-cut events, given that the starting fields would be about 70 to 80 players?
For stability and a better understanding of how these marquee events would play out, it was assumed that they would all follow the same structure, with tour administrators opting not to have a cut so that sponsors could be confident that top players would play all four rounds. However, the conversations ended up taking a different direction. The three tournaments that may be termed “legacy” events, with legends as hosts—the late Arnold Palmer’s Invitational at Bay Hill, Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial, and Tiger Woods’ Genesis Invitational—were reportedly pressed to keep the 36-hole cut.
The circuit eventually agreed, and thus these three events, beginning with this week’s stop at Riviera Country Club, will see some players leave early—though only a few. The field here begins with 70 players, which is typically the number of players who make the cut and play on the weekend (regular tour tournaments have a cutline of 65 or ties). However, after 36 holes, only the top 50 players and ties will advance to Riviera, as well as anyone within 10 strokes of the lead.
If the second portion seems familiar, that’s because it was part of the Masters formula until Augusta National eliminated the 10-shot rule in 2020.
Last year, when the Genesis field had 129 entries, Max Homa led after two rounds at 10 under. The cut came in at two over, with 68 players making the weekend. Under this year’s format, those who shot one under last year and made the cut, including Woods, would not play this weekend.
Is it perplexing for some? Yes. Does it have to be? The players are probably not in agreement on that.
“I generally think they should all look the same if they can,” Adam Scott stated on Tuesday. “I know it’s a little complicated at Pebble Beach since it’s a pro-am, but in general, I believe they should all have cuts or not have cuts. That is how I would respond. I do not mind. I mean, I would probably choose the greatest option for television sponsors and fans. But I think it would be a better look for folks following the tour if it was more consistent, so it was simpler to keep track of what was going on rather than changing things every week.”
It will undoubtedly be worthwhile to make the cut this week. The winner receives $4 million, while the 50th participant receives $52,000, if no ties exist.
