What is the projected cut for U.S. Open 2024?

The cut at a Major championship like the U.S. Open is a big deal. There's a lot of money at stake with a prize purse usually larger than $20 million. That money is doled out to a lot of players, but only if they make the cut. Those who play just the first two rounds don't see much.

The cut varies with every tournament. For regular tournaments, it is designed to cut the field down to about 50 players including possible ties. If there are 16 players tied at T50, then all of them would make the cut. In Majors, even more players make the cut.

The U.S. Open sees 60 players (including ties) remaining after the first two rounds. The Masters sees 50 remaining, like most other tournaments, and the PGA Championship lets the top 70 players continue to the third round.

Before the 2024 U.S. Open, the projected cut line based on the odds at hand with respect to the tournament is +3.5 (Covers). This means that bettors have to predict if it will be +3 or +4, but the projected cut is within that range.

What will the US Open cut line be?

This year, it seems that the top 60 players who are better than +4 after two rounds will be moving on. However, this can turn out to inaccurate. If the field struggles, then it's likely that the cut will be much lower.

Conversely, if there are several golfers with -7 after two rounds, then the cut can be higher. It all depends on the performance of the collective field. If the course proves to be difficult, that will show itself in the final cut line, which will be made following Friday's second round.

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Exploring previous cut lines at the U.S. Open

Here are the cuts from the last 13 U.S. Open tournaments. They vary quite a lot, sometimes being as high as eight over par or as low as 2017's +1 score. In some tournaments, the cut is over par and even those who are in the negatives are not allowed to continue.

Year	Cut
2023	(+2)
2022	(+4)
2021	(+4)
2020	(+6)
2019	(+2)
2018	(+8)
2017	(+1)
2016	(+6)
2015	(+5)
2014	(+5)
2013	(+8)
2012	(+8)
2011	(+4)

In 2023, the cut was at two over par. It meant that players like Phil Mickelson, Adrian Meronk, Max Homa, Taylor Pendrith, Matt Kuchar and Nick Dunlap failed to make the cut. In total, 65 players made the cut including ties and other factors.

The cut is a unique aspect of golf since it is and has always been flexible. Golf tournaments, excluding certain PGA Tour Signature Events and LIV Golf tournaments, expel part of the field to smoothen things out for the final rounds, ensuring only the best competition.