Masters 2013 Cut Line: Explaining Rule Changes and Format

Effective immediately, the Masters has extended the cut line and the weekend field will now contain at least 50 golfers. 

Augusta National chairman Billy Payne announced the changes on Wednesday, and Golf.com passed along the news. 

The cut comes after the completion of the second round. Previously, in order to qualify for the final two rounds a player had to be either tied for 44th or better, or within 10 shots of the lead.

Being within 10 shots of the lead remains the magic number for score, but the position has been pushed back to any golfer tied for 50th or better on the leaderboard.

This is a slight change, but any change at Augusta is always big news.

This change would not have altered anything last year, as 62 players made the cut by virtue of being within 10 of the lead. 

Payne announced another slight change on Wednesday, as the Masters has altered its invitation qualifications. These changes will begin for next year's tournament. 

To accommodate the Tour's changing schedule while maintaining the small field of the Masters, the tournament will now only invite the top 12 finishers from the previous year's Masters instead of the top 16. 

Also, it will only invite the top eight finishers from the U.S. Open, instead of the top 12, and the exemption for the top 30 golfers on the money list is no more.

This will allow the Masters to invite all PGA Tour tournament winners, except for the tournaments that run the same time as a major or a WGC event.

Again, this is a minor change, which will likely only have a minimal effect.