As a rule, the following applies to all tournaments on the PGA and DP World Tour: after two rounds of play, there is a cut that only the 65 best players and equals survive. This selection fights for the final ranking in two further rounds. The total prize money that can be won at a tournament is divided among all players who have survived the cut – the players who had to go home after two rounds go home empty-handed. However, the rules are different at Augusta.
Missed the cut: Who gets prize money at the Masters Tournament 2024?
Starting with the size of the starting field: in the majority of events, around 150 players take part – in Augusta, the field is limited to around 80 to 90 players. There are also special conditions for qualifying for the Masters Tournament. This year, there were a total of 19 different, strictly regulated ways to qualify. Starting with the Masters champions, who receive a ticket for life, to champions and top-ranked players from other majors and big tournaments, who qualify for certain periods of time, such as five years. In addition, current PGA Tour winners and the 50 leaders of the official world rankings, which are published in the week before the current Masters tournament, will start. Various amateur champions will also have the opportunity to play in Augusta.
The Masters Tournament is the first major tournament of the year and probably the biggest highlight of the season for many golfers and fans. Only the crème de la crème are allowed to compete in the tournament at Augusta National and fight for the Green Jacket. The rules of the tournament are slightly modified compared to the usual tournaments of the leading tours in golf.
Although the cut is also made after 36 holes have been played, only the 50 best and equals are entitled to a ticket for the weekend. This means that the Major journey is already over for more players than usual on Friday. However, there is another change that comes into effect at the Masters Tournament: all players, even those who miss the cut, are entitled to prize money. Anyone who has played two rounds will receive 10,000 US dollars in prize money. The only exceptions are the amateurs in the starting field.
The trip to Augusta therefore not only brings the fulfillment of a dream and memories of a very special tournament for all players, regardless of how they fared, but also guaranteed prize money of 10,000 US dollars. An icing on the cake that makes participation in the Masters Tournament even more attractive.
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Other majors are similar
At the PGA Championship, in which no amateurs take part, every player who misses the cut receives prize money of 4,000 US dollars. The US Open pays out the same amount as the Masters: 10,000 US dollars go to those who miss the cut. The British Open staggers the prizes: The ten best golfers who missed the cut, for example, receive 7,200 US dollars. The worse the performance, the less money the players are entitled to.
The wait is over. The 88th Masters week is here. #themasterspic.twitter.com/nVLBANcISn
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 2024
Source: The Masters Tournament 2024: Prize Money without Making the Cut?