Breaking down cut line for the 2023 WM Phoenix Open

Update, Saturday 12:30 p.m. ET — The cut line will include the 66 golfers who finished at even or better over the first 36 holes. Kurt Kitayama, Hideki Matsuyama, and Webb Simpson just made it inside the cut line.

Update, Saturday 9:45 a.m. ET — Play has started back up after Round 2 was suspended, and with 63 players shooting even or better as they finish up the round, just a few guys at +1 have to play well in the final few holes to make the cut line E. Otherwise, we’ll be looking at a larger post-cut field, and the cut line will be +1.

Scottie Scheffler remains in the lead at -10. Matt Fitzpatrick, who did not make the cut last week, is at +1 with six holes left to play.

Update 5:00 p.m. ET — We are at 75 players at +1 or better, with 16 on the number exactly. Rory McIlroy made a birdie on No. 2 to get himself on the correct side of the line, and with favorable course conditions, there’s a slim chance we could see -2 become the number to make the weekend at some point.

As of now, Kramer Hickok is the only man in the clubhouse at +2, and it seems quite unlikely he’ll need his hotel room in Phoenix on Saturday night.

Update 3:45 p.m. ET — The projected cut remains +1 and there’s still plenty of golfers who are yet to tee off on Friday. Rory McIlroy is among a group of golfers at +2 but he’s yet to tee off. Unless Rory rebounds, he would be in danger of missing the cut as of now. Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay and Hideki Matsuyama also haven’t tee’d off but are below the cut line.

Update 2:30 p.m. ET — +1 is still the number, but now there are 75 players on that figure or better out of the starting field of 134. Maverick McNealy has already withdrawn due to a shoulder injury, his second-straight week of not making it thru 36 holes.

As of now Brendan Steele, Dylan Frittelli, Andrew Putnam, and Matthias Schwas are the players on the course at +2 looking for at least one birdie or better. Tom Hoge and are part of a group at +1 that are looking to avoid a bad stretch to make it to Saturday.

The PGA TOUR has already teed off the second round of the 2023 Waste Management Open, and Jason Day is at the top of the leaderboard at -6 as he puts a peg in the ground to start Friday.

But around half the field won’t be returning for tomorrow’s action at The People’s Open, and we document the journey here.

The afternoon groups begin at 2:00 p.m. ET, and with the late players yesterday scoring much better than the early ones, it should be about 4:00 p.m. before we have a solid idea of what the final cut line should be. Of course many participants will know they’re heading home after holing out on 18.

How is the cut line determined?

The cut line at 36 holes is the top 65 players plus those tied at the end of that group.

What is the projected cut line for the WM Phoenix Open as of now?

Right now the cut line is set at +1, with 67 players on that number or better.

Who is not projected to make the cut?

Jimmy Walker went out with an 80 yesterday, so he’s playing for fun today. So too is Matthew NeSmith (+8 79), Cameron Champ (+7), and Chad Ramey (+7).

Rory McIlroy entered the event as the second choice on the odds board at +750, but his early tee time on Thursday didn’t help as he fired a +2 73. He’ll have to make some red numbers today to make it to the weekend, but his 4:18 p.m. ET tee time should be helpful.