How Many Rounds Are Played in The Masters Tournament?
The Masters Tournament is a 72‑hole competition played over four rounds (Thursday through Sunday) for every competitor who makes the 36‑hole cut. Players who miss the cut stop after two rounds (36 holes). If the lead is tied after 72 holes, a sudden‑death playoff adds extra holes but not a full round.
The Standard Four-Day Schedule at Augusta National
Since the first Masters in 1934, the tournament runs Thursday through Sunday without exception. All competitors play 18 holes on Thursday (Round 1) and another 18 on Friday (Round 2). After Friday’s second round, the field is cut. Only players inside the cut line continue for Saturday (Round 3) and Sunday (Round 4). That yields a maximum of 72 regulation holes.
| Day | Round |
|---|---|
| Thursday | Round 1 – 18 holes |
| Friday | Round 2 – 18 holes |
| Saturday | Round 3 – 18 holes |
| Sunday | Round 4 – 18 holes |
Weather delays are resolved within the same four‑day window; the tournament has never been shortened to fewer than 72 holes in its 90‑year history. This answer applies to the modern cut rule (since 2020). Before 2020, the cut included a 10‑stroke rule that sometimes allowed more players to play the weekend. For example, in 2019, players within 10 strokes of the lead (even if outside the top 50) advanced to the weekend. That exception no longer exists. If you’re looking at historical results from before 2020, a few players outside the top 50 but within 10 strokes would have played Rounds 3 and 4. Today, the cut is strictly top 50 and ties.
Practical implication for fans: If you’re attending or watching to follow a specific player, roughly half the starting field will be gone by Saturday. The cut line is announced Friday evening. Plan your weekend viewing around only the players inside the top 50 (ties included).
Who Plays All 72 Holes (and Who Doesn’t)
The Masters cut, updated in 2020, keeps the top 50 players (including ties) and eliminates the old 10‑stroke rule. No player outside that group gets a weekend exemption.
- Players who make the cut – 36 holes on Thursday/Friday + 36 holes on Saturday/Sunday = 72 regulation holes.
- Players who miss the cut – only 36 holes (two rounds). Their tournament ends Friday evening.
Concrete evidence from recent years:
- In 2023, 91 players started. After 36 holes, 52 players made the cut (top 50 plus ties). The other 39 players played only two rounds.
- In 2024, 89 players started and 54 made the cut (top 50 plus ties), meaning 35 players stopped after 36 holes.
Amateurs follow the exact same cut line. There is no special amateur exemption to play the weekend. The low amateur after 72 holes receives the Silver Cup, but only if that amateur first makes the cut. If the low amateur misses the cut, the Silver Cup is awarded to the amateur who played all four rounds – but that hasn’t happened since 1986, because most amateurs who miss the cut are eliminated. In 2022, only one amateur (Aaron Jarvis) made the cut and played all four rounds; the other amateurs played just two.
Past champions also face the same cut. A lifetime invitation to play does not guarantee a weekend pass. In 2023, past champions Fred Couples and Mike Weir both missed the cut and played only 36 holes. Winning the Masters guarantees a start each year, not a free pass to Sunday.
Playoff Holes: Extra Golf, Not an Extra Round
If two or more players are tied for the lead after 72 holes, they enter a sudden‑death playoff starting on hole No. 10. The playoff alternates between holes 10 and 18 until one player wins. This is not counted as an additional round – it’s an extension of the fourth round.
- Longest playoff in Masters history: 2 extra holes (1987, 1990, 2017).
- Evidence from 2017: Sergio Garcia birdied the first playoff hole (No. 10) to defeat Justin Rose. The Masters officially lists Garcia’s result as “four rounds plus a playoff,” not five rounds.
- No Masters playoff has ever required more than two extra holes, though tie‑ and match‑play formats (not used at the Masters) could extend longer.
Mismatch to watch for: Some fans confuse “playoff rounds” with “extra full rounds.” The Masters does not play a full 18‑hole playoff like the U.S. Open (which had a Monday 18‑hole playoff until 2018). If you hear “playoff at Augusta,” expect a brief sudden‑death shootout, not a full fifth round.
How to Check Which Players Are Still In
You can verify a player’s round count in real time using the official Masters leaderboard (masters.com or the Masters mobile app). After Friday’s second round, look for:
1. The cut line indicator – Usually shown as a white line or “cut” marker next to the scoreboard. Players above the line are inside the top 50 (ties).
2. Round number – Every player’s row shows rounds completed. If a player has only two rounds listed, they missed the cut. If they have three or four, they continued.
3. Bold names – Players who make the cut are often listed in bold on the official site; those who miss are in regular weight.
Using this, you can confirm before Saturday morning whether your favorite player gets to play two more rounds or is done for the week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all players play 4 rounds at the Masters?
No. Only those who make the cut (top 50 and ties) play Rounds 3 and 4. Players who miss the cut stop after two rounds.
How many rounds do amateurs play at the Masters?
Amateurs follow the same cut rule. If they finish outside the top 50 after 36 holes, they play only two rounds. The low amateur after 72 holes receives the Silver Cup.
Has the Masters ever had a 54‑hole event?
No. Since its inception in 1934, the Masters has always completed the full 72‑hole schedule. No natural disaster or extreme event has ever forced a shorter tournament.
How many holes are in a Masters playoff?
The playoff is sudden‑death starting on hole 10, then alternating with hole 18. It ends when one player wins, typically within one or two extra holes. The record is two extra holes (four holes total in the playoff).
What happens if a player misses the cut but is a past champion?
They still stop after 36 holes. Past champions receive a lifetime invitation to play the Masters, but they must make the cut to play the weekend. In 2023, both Fred Couples and Mike Weir missed the cut and played only two rounds.
Michael Reeves is a PGA Professional with over 20 years of experience in competitive golf and instruction. A former Division I collegiate player at the University of Texas, he competed on the mini-tours before transitioning to full-time coaching and golf journalism. He has been a certified PGA teaching professional since 2005 and has worked with players at every level, from absolute beginners to collegiate champions.
His writing has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and The Left Rough. At GolfHubz, Michael leads the editorial team, overseeing fact-checking and ensuring every answer meets the same standard he demands on the lesson tee: clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Michael plays to a +1.4 handicap at his home club in Austin, Texas. He has attended over 40 major championships as a journalist and fan, and has played more than 200 courses across 15 countries.
You can reach Michael at [email protected] or follow his occasional swing analysis posts on the site.
