In recent conversations among golf enthusiasts, the buzzword is definitely “cuts.” Just a year ago, the PGA Tour introduced its Signature Events series, which aimed to trim down field sizes and sometimes skip the traditional 36-hole cut. Fast forward, and this year, the cut is making a comeback with gusto. It’s now a highlight of Golf Channel’s Friday broadcasts, sparking excitement as players vie to secure their spot for the weekend. Both athletes and sponsors have expressed enthusiasm for the competitive edge this provides by effectively reducing the participant pool by half.
A shining example of the cutline’s importance is Xander Schauffele. As he approached the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week, he carried the distinction of maintaining the longest streak of making cuts in golf. Friday marked the three-year anniversary of his last missed cut. Over those 57 tournaments since, Schauffele has not only participated but excelled, clinching two major victories while always securing weekend play.
Now, let’s rewind to the dramatic scene on Friday afternoon, at Bay Hill’s 13th tee.
Up until about half an hour prior, Schauffele was having quite an impressive day. A rocky start with a five-over 77 in the first round threatened his weekend play. However, he fought back fiercely, scoring three birdies across the first ten holes at Bay Hill without any bogeys. With the course toughening up and higher scores rolling in around him, Schauffele had climbed back into safety within the cutline. But then, calamity struck.
In Schauffele’s words, what felt like a “frying pan to the face” ensued on the 11th hole—an approach shot went straight into the water, resulting in a double-bogey. Another double-bogey appeared on the 12th, courtesy of a few misguided short-game efforts. By the time he stood at the 13th, notorious Bay Hill offered him a stiff challenge: he was two shots above the cutline with the course’s notoriously challenging closing holes ahead.
Reflecting on the experience, Schauffele acknowledged, “I made a real mess of some straightforward shots. Just one incorrect swing and some tough luck around the greens on the par-5. It was a nerve-wracking day.”
For many golfers, such a setback could spell the end of the day. Not for Schauffele. His tee shot on the 13th landed him eight feet from the hole, leading to a birdie. He sunk lengthy birdies on both the 14th and 16th holes, reclaiming three shots back. This remarkable turn-around pushed him to three over par, a single shot inside the projected cut. His round concluded with a bogey on the 18th, but it didn’t matter—his scrappy rally had successfully extended his cut streak to 58.
Given the context, Schauffele’s performance was even more commendable. The 31-year-old was managing not only the pressure of playing on one of the Tour’s hardest finishes but was also just returning to the course after sitting out nearly two months with an intercostal injury. While his comeback alone was noteworthy, these additional hurdles made his achievement stunningly impressive.
Schauffele expressed his determination, stating, “Going double-double when you’re in a solid position can be incredibly frustrating. But I knew I had to tap into something deeper within myself to play good golf, and that focus paid off. Austin and I take a lot of pride in our cut streak, regardless of how much it occupies our thoughts. Typically, if you’re winning, you’re making cuts, naturally falling somewhere in between.”
While Schauffele’s streak is admirable, it still has a way to go to match some of history’s legends. Tiger Woods holds the top spot with an incredible 142 straight cuts, followed by Byron Nelson with 113, Jack Nicklaus at 105, and Hale Irwin at 86.
Despite his impressive current streak, Schauffele is at least a year behind Irwin’s record and even further from surpassing Nicklaus, Nelson, or Woods. It’s a monumental challenge but requires precisely the kind of excellent and timely golf that Schauffele has been demonstrating consistently over the past few years.
Reflecting on the week, Schauffele commented, “It may sound strange, but I am genuinely pleased to have made it through to the weekend. It’s great to have two more rounds to hone my game on such a demanding course—good preparation for the tough contests this season holds.”
While it might seem unusual for a player ranked third in the world to feel relieved at making the weekend, that’s exactly how Schauffele sounded after finishing at Bay Hill. As in both golf and life, showing up is half the battle won.
