Sky Sports Golf crew hit out at LIV Golf and PGA Tour with Masters cut comments

Sky Sports Golf's commentary team hit out at the decision by both PGA Tour and LIV Golf to remove cut marks on their circuits following the conclusion of the second round on a dark and gloomy day three at The Masters. 

LIV Golf has emerged on the scene the past 12 months and completely removed cut marks from their 54-hole tournaments that also feature a shotgun starts. 

The PGA Tour has followed suit this season by confirming its elevated tournaments will not have any halfway cuts in 2024. 

While yet to be fully confirmed, it is understood eight elevated no-cut events will feature fields of 70-80 players next season. 

PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan recently said their 'no cut' format is nothing like it is on LIV Golf, though. 

But with all that in mind, Sky Sports Golf's long-time lead commentator Ewen Murray believes 'no cuts' is not the right way to go in professional golf tournaments. 

Murray was speaking after the cut mark kept changing hands dramatically on Saturday morning at The Masters as players returned to finish their second rounds. 

Tiger Woods made the cut on the number (3-over par) despite making bogeys on the final two holes as those around him on 2-over par were struggling to make pars in the rain. 

It meant Woods earned yet another major record for most consecutive cuts (23) alongside Gary Player and Fred Couples. 

For Murray, having a cut mark adds extra excitement for both the players and the fans.

"Further evidence you must not do away with cuts," said Murray as he watched Sungjae Im send a wedge into five feet for par on the 18th in order to make the halfway cut at Augusta National. "It's a big part of 72 holes."

Tiger Woods' former long-time golf coach Butch Harmon chuckled away next to Murray and then replied: "I agree 100%."

Harmon added: "These new tournaments they are talking about with 70 to 80 players, no cuts, for a lot of money, there is just something about a cut, look at the excitement that has been brought into the last hour just to make the cut. None of them had a chance to get to the lead, just to make sure they could be here for the next two rounds."

Former US PGA champion and Sky Sports commentator Rich Beem added: "Even for Tiger Woods, a five-time champion here, it means a lot to make the cut and stick around for the final 36 holes, it's a sense of accomplishment."

DP World Tour pro Eddie Pepperell recently said something similar on Twitter. 

"It's one of the worst things to happen to the game in the last 12 months," tweeted Pepperell about hearing the PGA Tour's latest plans for no-cut events and following the lead of LIV Golf. 

In the eyes of Pepperell, who has endured something of a rollercoaster career on the former European Tour circuit, making a halfway cut can sometimes feel like a "mini win" for some players who are struggling with their games. 

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