who made the cut at the players championship
The cut at the 2026 Players Championship fell at 2‑over par after 36 holes, with all players at +2 or better advancing to the weekend.
Quick Scoop
On Friday at TPC Sawgrass, rising star Ludvig Aberg surged into the 36‑hole lead with a blistering 9‑under 63, moving to 12‑under and safely inside the cut. Xander Schauffele sat two shots back, also comfortably through to the weekend.
A number of big names hovered around the cut but survived. Rory McIlroy needed a birdie on the 18th to sneak inside the number, turning a likely early exit into weekend tee times. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler also flirted with missing the cut after an underwhelming 73, but he, too, birdied the last to make it on the number.
Some players did far more than just “barely make it.” Brian Harman rocketed up the board with a 64, jumping into the top 10 after starting the day in danger of going home. Michael Thorbjornsen matched that Friday surge vibe with a 65, moving from outside the safe zone into weekend play.
Meanwhile, well‑known names like Jake Knapp, Lucas Glover, Sungjae Im, Gary Woodland, Shane Lowry, Joel Dahmen and others finished at +3 or worse and missed the 2‑over cut line entirely. Their early exits highlighted just how punishing TPC Sawgrass can be when the margins are this thin.
How the cut works at The Players
- The tournament uses a standard PGA Tour‑style cut after 36 holes.
- The top 65 and ties advance to the final two rounds and earn prize money.
- In 2026, that translated to everyone at +2 or better making the weekend, with anyone worse than +2 heading home.
Notable players who made the cut (examples)
- Ludvig Aberg (leader at −12 after two rounds).
- Xander Schauffele (solo second at −10).
- Brian Harman (jumped into T10 after a 64).
- Michael Thorbjornsen (into the “safe zone” with a 65).
- Rory McIlroy (in after a clutch birdie at 18).
- Scottie Scheffler (also in after a must‑have birdie at 18).
In forum and social chatter, the story wasn’t just “who made the cut” but “who survived 17 and 18 under pressure,” with McIlroy and Scheffler’s closing birdies becoming instant talking points.
Short HTML table of sample players who made the cut
| Player | Position after 36 holes | Score vs par | Cut status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ludvig Aberg | 1st | [3]-12 | [3]Made cut |
| Xander Schauffele | 2nd | [3]-10 | [3]Made cut |
| Brian Harman | T10 | [3]After 64 in R2 | [3]Made cut |
| Michael Thorbjornsen | Inside safe zone | [3]65 in R2 | [3]Made cut |
| Rory McIlroy | Near cut line | [3]+2 or better after birdie at 18 | [3]Made cut |
| Scottie Scheffler | Near cut line | [6][3]+2 or better after birdie at 18 | [6][3]Made cut |
TL;DR
- Cut line: 2‑over after 36 holes.
- Everyone at +2 or better made the weekend; worse than +2 missed out.
- Aberg led, Schauffele chased, while stars like McIlroy and Scheffler survived dramatic cut‑line battles on the 18th.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.