A proposed double-cut method designed to relieve congestion and speed up play for weekend fields at PGA Tour events. Also presented is a restructured prize money distribution formula, as well as examples of the 80-50 cut in action.
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1 ... The 80-50 Cut Proposal Back to Top** Benefits of the 80-50 Cut **
•• Players successfully making at least the Low 80-and-Ties Cut would be guaranteed to receive
some level of official money and finish credit regardless of what happens to them after the
Low 80-and-Ties cut occurs.
•• If more than 50 professionals successfully make the Low 50-and-Ties cut, then each such pro
would be guaranteed to receive at least as money as is offered for 50th place, provided that
each such pro successfully completes the remaining holes of play.
•• After the 80-50 cut, there would be at least 25 two-man groups playing the remaining holes
of the particular event, but no more than 28 or 29 such groups, compared to 35-or-more such
groups under current PGA Tour regulations. This would free up 60-or-more minutes of time,
allowing for better spacing between the groups, which would help speed up play.
In cases where weather delays might force an event to have, among other scenarios, a Monday
finish or a 36-hole final day on Sunday, the 80-50 cut could help to ease the burdens that
are normally brought on by such finishes.
** How the 80-50 Cut works **
At the 36-hole mark (54 holes, Pebble Beach; 72 holes, Bob Hope) in full-field PGA Tour events,
two cuts would occur, the Low 80 and the Low 50.
At the two official money WGC events, the CA-Doral Invitational and Bridgestone Invitational,
all players successfully finishing at least 54 holes would receive Low 80-and-Ties cut credit,
while all players successfully making the Low 50-and-Ties Cut and going on to successfully
complete the remaining holes of play would receive Low 50-and-Ties cut credit.
Low 80-and-Ties Cut
Low 80 professionals plus ties, with no floor. Includes any amateurs tied therein. All such
players who successfully make the Low 80-and-Ties cut would be credited with at least a 36
(or 54 or 72)-hole finish, with all professionals receiving official money.
Low 50-and-Ties Cut
Low 50 professionals plus ties, up to a specific floor of 56 players. Includes any amateurs
tied therein. All such players would advance to the final 36 holes (or the final 18 after
54 or 72 holes), with all professionals receiving at least as much money as is offered
for 50th place, provided that such professionals successfully complete the remaining holes
of play.
The specific floor of 56 would be determined in this order ...
(1) Overall 36 (or 54 or 72)-hole score.
(2) lowest 2nd round score (if 36 holes; 3rd round, if 54; 4th round, if 72).
(3) specific time of finish in the 2nd round (if 36 holes; 3rd round, if 54;
4th round, if 72).
The specific time of finish for each player would be marked with an electronic time-keeping system,
which shall be accurate down to the exact second that a player finishes their round. A team of
special observers on holes 9 and 18 (in two-or-more tee starts) would perform these markings.
If two-or-more players should be marked as having tied for the last finish time before the Low
50-and-Ties cut, then all of them would qualify for the Final 50-and-Ties, even if this might
push the Low 50-and-Ties floor a player or two above the mark of 56. Any amateurs who finish
at or before the marked finish time of the last qualifying professional(s) would also qualify
for the Final 50-and-Ties.
NOTE: In WGC stroke-play events only, the specific floor for the Low 50-and-Ties cut is exactly
50 players. If (in a two-tee start) two professionals should happen to tie for the 50th
finish time, then a sudden-death playoff would be held to eliminate the extra player.
If any professional or amateur who sucessfully makes the Top-50-and-Ties cut were to then withdraw,
or to be disqualified for an infraction in any remaining round, the status of such a player would
then revert to that at the time of the original Low 80-and-Ties cut. All such players would be
credited with a Low 80-And-Ties Cut finish, with professionals receiving equal shares of official
money as determined by the original Low 80-and-Ties cut.
Any player who withdraws prior to the Low 80-and-Ties cut, or who is disqualified for an infraction
which occurs over the first 36 (or 54, or 72) holes, would receive no official finish credit and
(professionals only) no official money.
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2 ... Restructured Prize Money Distribution Back to Top
NOTE: This type of distribution is -NOT- currently in use on any golf tour.
** Benefits of This Restructured Distribution **
•• The difference ratio between 1st place and 80th place, if exactly 80 professionals successfully
finish in a given event, is 45-1, compared with the 90-1 difference ratio between 1st place
and 70th place in the current PGA Tour distribution formula. Exactly 100 professionals would
produce a 60-1 difference ratio. To match the current formula's 90-1 difference ratio would
require exactly 110 professionals to successfully finish in a given event.
•• The combination of all of the following should appeal to many professionals --
•••• At least 80 available places in the restructured distribution formula vs. at least 70
such places in the current formula.
•••• The guarantee of an official finish credit plus official money for any player who
successfully makes at least a Low 80-and-Ties cut.
•••• The guarantee that any professional who successfully makes a Low 50-and-Ties cut -AND-
successfully finishes the remainder of the event would earn at least as much money as
is offered for 50th place. Incidentally, the difference ratio between 1st and 50th
place is 30-1.
•••• The narrower difference ratio between first and last place in the restructured distribution
would allow for a wider playing field as far as seasonal money races and various exemptions
are concerned.
** $ 5,000,000 Purse | 15%-1st Place | 80+ Places **
Divide the 1st place prize of the particular event being contested by $750,000.
Use the result to multiply individual place prizes.
1..$ 750,000 11..$ 100,000 21..$ 58,000 Places 1-50 .... $ 4,500,000
2..$ 400,000 12..$ 90,000 22..$ 56,000 Places 51-up ... $ 500,000
3..$ 300,000 13..$ 80,000 23..$ 54,000
4..$ 250,000 14..$ 75,000 24..$ 52,000
5..$ 200,000 15..$ 70,000 25, 26 & 27 .. $ 50,000 each Remaining $ 500,000 for places
6..$ 180,000 16..$ 68,000 28, 29 & 30 .. $ 45,000 " 51st and up is divided by the
7..$ 160,000 17..$ 66,000 31 to 35 ..... $ 40,000 " number of pros beyond the 50th
8..$ 140,000 18..$ 64,000 36 to 40 ..... $ 35,000 " who sucessfully make the Low 80
9..$ 120,000 19..$ 62,000 41 to 45 ..... $ 30,000 " and Ties cut.
10..$ 110,000 20..$ 60,000 46 to 50 ..... $ 25,000 "
Number of professionals beyond the 50th ... Each Shares
30 ... $ 16,667 36 ... $ 13,889 42 ... $ 11,905 48 ... $ 10,417
31 ... $ 16,129 37 ... $ 13,514 43 ... $ 11,628 49 ... $ 10,204
32 ... $ 15,625 38 ... $ 13,158 44 ... $ 11,364 50 ... $ 10,000
33 ... $ 15,152 39 ... $ 12,821 45 ... $ 11,111
34 ... $ 14,706 40 ... $ 12,500 46 ... $ 10,870 60 ... $ 8,333
35 ... $ 14,286 41 ... $ 12,195 47 ... $ 10,638
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3 ... Sample 80-50 Cut Scenarios Back to Top
The prize money distribution formula presented in section-2 above is used in all scenarios presented herein.
** Scenario-1: A 72-hole regular event **
A. Low 80-and-Ties Cut ... 86 professionals and one amateur at three over par or better.
$500,000 divided by 36 (number of pros beyond the 50th) resulted in a figure of $13,889.
B. Low 50-and-Ties Cut ... Initially 69 players (68 professionals and one amateur) at two over par
or better, subsequently reduced by Low 50 tiebreakers to 56 professionals
plus the amateur.
There were exactly 50 players at one over par or better, but one of these was an amateur, so the
Low-50 cut line was moved up to two over. A total of 19 professionals had finished with the two
over score. The Low 50 tiebreakers were then applied, which resulted in the elimination of twelve
professionals. Each of these eliminated pros were assigned Low 80-and-Ties status.
Those professionals successfully making only the Low 80-and-Ties cut received equal official
money shares of $13,889.
Each professional who successfully made the Low 50-and-Ties cut was assured of earning at least
$25,000 in official money, provided that each such player successfully finished the remaining
holes of play.
C. Remaining holes of play
54 of 56 professionals, as well as one amateur, successfully finished the remaining
36 holes of the 72-hole event.
One professional withdrew before finishing the 3rd round, while another was disqualified for
a fourth round scorecard infraction. The status of each of these particular players reverted
to that at the time of the original Low 80-and-Ties cut, with each such pro receiving credit
for a Low 80-and-Ties cut finish, plus $13,889 in official money.
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** Scenario-2: The 90-hole Bob Hope Classic **
A. Low 80-and-Ties Cut ... Initially 86 professionals at three under par or better. Reduced to 85
after one pro subsequently turned himself in for an incorrect 4th round
scorecard. That particular player received no official finish credit or
money.
$600,000 divided by 35 (number of pros beyond the 50th) resulted in a figure of $14,286.
B. Low 50-and-Ties Cut ... Originally 55 professionals at five under par or better, subsequently
reduced to 54 (the player with the incorrect scorecard in part-A above).
Those professionals successfully making only the Low 80-and-Ties cut received equal official
money shares of $14,286.
Each professional who successfully made the Low 50-and-Ties cut was assured of earning at least
$25,000 in official money, provided that each such player successfully finished the remaining
holes of play.
C. Remaining holes of play
All 54 professionals successfully finished the remaining 18 holes of the 90-hole
Bob Hope Classic.
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** Scenario-3: A 72-hole regular event **
A. Low 80-and-Ties Cut ... 94 professionals at four over par or better.
$500,000 divided by 44 (number of pros beyond the 50th) resulted in a figure of $11,364.
B. Low 50-and-Ties Cut ... Initially 59 professionals at one over par or better, subsequently
reduced by Low 50 tiebreakers to 57 professionals, because there
were two who were marked simultaneously at the 56th earliest
finishing time.
Those professionals successfully making only the Low 80-and-Ties cut received equal official
money shares of $11,364.
Each professional who successfully made the Low 50-and-Ties cut was assured of earning at least
$25,000 in official money, provided that each such player successfully finished the remaining
holes of play.
C. Remaining holes of play
54 of 57 professionals successfully finished the remaining 36 holes of the 72-hole event.
One professional withdrew before the start of the 3rd round, while another withdrew after
the 3rd round. A third professional was disqualified for a 3rd round scorecard infraction.
The status of each of these particular players reverted to that at the time of the original
Low 80-and-Ties cut, with each such pro receiving credit for a Low 80-and-Ties cut finish,
plus $11,364 in official money.
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** Scenario-4: A 72-hole WGC stroke play event **
A. The initial starting field .... 88 professionals.
$500,000 divided by 38 (number of pros beyond the 50th) resulted in a figure of $13,158.
Over the first 54 holes, players were grouped in threesomes, going off both the 1st and
10th tees.
B. Low 50-and-Ties Cut ... Initially 66 professionals at seven over par or better, subsequently
reduced by Low 50 tiebreakers to 51 professionals, because two pros
tied for the 50th marked finish time. A sudden-death playoff was then
conducted, with the winner advancing to the Final 50.
Those professionals successfully finishing at least 54 holes received Low 80-and-Ties
cut status, and were to receive equal official money shares of $13,158. The money
amounts would change after an incident described in part-C below.
Each professional who successfully made the Low 50-and-Ties cut was assured of earning at least
$25,000 in official money, provided that each such player successfully finished the remaining
holes of play.
C. Remaining holes of play
49 of 50 professionals successfully finished the remaining 18 holes of the 72-hole WGC
stroke play event.
One professional aggrevated a muscle injury and withdrew after seven holes. His status
then reverted to that at the time of the original Low 80-and-Ties cut, therefore he
received credit for a Low 80-and-Ties cut finish.
Because one of the final 50 professionals did not finish his 4th round, the 50th place
prize of $25,000 was added to the remaining $500,000 for a $525,000 total. Next, a
division of $525,000 by 39 (the original 38 pros beyond the 50th, plus the pro who
withdrew during round-4) resulted in an equal money share figure of $13,462, which
went to all those credited with a Top 80-and-ties cut finish.
Suggested Revisions of the PGA Tour Exemption Categories!!!!
Top 125 money winner threshold is reduced to Top 90. More playing chances are provided for Nationwide Tour and Q-School players.
The points-based Fed Ex Cup is replaced with a money-based Season Championship. Also, there is a hypothetical 2009 PGA Tour
schedule that is based on the suggested revisions.
