<P> Similar to the other majors, the tournament consists of four rounds at 18 holes each, Thursday through Sunday (when there are no delays). The Masters has a relatively small field of contenders, when compared with other golf tournaments, so the competitors play in groups of three for the first two rounds (36 holes) and the field is not split to start on the 1st and 10th tees, unless weather shortens the available playing time . The tournament is unique in that it is the only major tournament conducted by a private club rather than a national golf organization like the PGA . </P> <P> Originally, the Masters was the only tournament to use two - man pairings during the first two rounds . It was also the only event to re-pair based on the leaderboard before Friday's round, as most tournaments only do this on the weekend . This practice ended in the early 2000s, when the Masters switched to the more standard three - man groups and the groups are now kept in - tact on Friday, with players sharing the same playing partners in both of the first two rounds . </P> <P> After 36 holes of play, a cut - off score is calculated to reduce the size of the field for the weekend rounds . To "make the cut", players must be either in the top 50 places (ties counting), or within 10 strokes of the leader's score . These criteria have applied since 2013 . From 1957 to 1960, the top 40 scores (including ties) and those within 10 strokes of the leader made the cut . From 1961 to 2012, it was the top 44 (and ties) or within 10 strokes of the lead . Before 1957, there was no 36 - hole cut and all of the invitees played four rounds, if desired . </P> <P> Following the cut, an additional 36 holes are played over the final two days . Should the fourth round fail to produce a winner, all players tied for the lead enter a sudden - death playoff . Play begins on the 18th hole, followed by the adjacent 10th, repeating until one player remains . Adopted in 1976, the sudden - death playoff was originally formatted to start on the first hole, but was not needed for the first three years . It was changed for 1979 to the inward (final) nine holes, starting at the tenth tee, where the television coverage began . First employed that same year, the Masters' first sudden - death playoff ended on the eleventh green . The current arrangement, beginning at the 18th tee, was amended for 2004 and first used the following year . Through 2017, the eleven sudden - death playoffs have yet to advance past the second extra hole . Earlier playoffs were 18 holes on the following day, except for the first in 1935, which was 36 holes; the last 18 - hole playoff was in 1970, and none of the full - round playoffs went to additional holes . </P>

What is the cut for the masters golf