The American Express golf tournament, often referred to as The AmEx, operates differently when it comes to its cut line compared to other PGA Tour events. As the second tournament of the new PGA Tour season, it features several top golfers, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, making their first appearance of the year.
Traditionally, PGA Tour tournaments follow a familiar structure: there is an opening round, a cut day, moving day, and finally, the last round. However, The AmEx opts for a unique format by holding the cut after the third round on Saturday, following 54 holes. This means that unlike most tournaments, golf fans will not see any players eliminated after the second round.
The reason for this unusual cut schedule lies in the tournament’s format. The American Express is hosted across three different courses, and each golfer plays one round on each course during the first three days. This rotation ensures that all competitors have similar opportunities to contend, regardless of how difficult or easy the courses may play on any given day. It is considered fair to wait for all players to complete rounds on each of the three courses before making the cut.
At the conclusion of play on Saturday, the cut line will involve the top 65 players plus ties, who will then advance to the final round on Sunday. For reference, in 2025, the cut line was set at -9, meaning that those with scores of 9-under par made it through, while those at 8-under did not.
Fans eagerly await the outcome as this year’s cut line won’t be determined until Saturday evening. With the tournament still unfolding, there is great potential for excitement as players vie for a spot in the final round. The unique approach of The AmEx highlights the PGA Tour’s commitment to providing a fair and competitive landscape for all golfers involved.