Genesis Invitational unique cut rules, how many make weekend, peculiar 2024 format

Arguably already one of the biggest events on the golfing schedule year in and year out, the magnitude of this year's Genesis Invitational reached another level entirely after tournament host, Tiger Woods, announced he would be making his return to competitive action for the first time in 2024 at this week's signature event.

Held at one of the most revered locales in the world, Riviera Country Club, the Genesis Invitational was always likely to attract an elite field featuring some of the world's best players. That certainly came to fruition this week when nine of the world's top 10 OWGR-ranked players committed to teeing it up in Tiger's event.

Riviera seemingly always provides a true examination of a player's game and golfers know coming into the week at the well-respected venue that they are likely to face and will need to survive a stern test if they are going to survive the cut and hope to contend on the weekend.

All of that has historically led to an even-par cut line or higher and if the opening round of this year's Genesis Invitational is anything to go off of, more of the same could be in store this time around with scoring averages on day one coming in only slightly under par. But exactly how many players will make the cut at the Genesis Invitational and why are the rules in 2024 both peculiar and unique? Let's take a look.

Genesis Invitational cut rules: How many players make the cut at Riviera?

For the second consecutive year, the Genesis Invitational has been given 'elevated' or signature event status in 2024. Unlike last year's field of 129 players, however, the field for this year's edition has been dramatically reduced to 70 in keeping with the rest of this season's signature events on the PGA Tour.

Following the conclusion of second round action this week at Riviera Country Club, the Top 50 players and ties will make the cut. In addition, any player within ten strokes of the leader following the completion of play on Friday will advance to the weekend.

This is similar to the rules that were implemented in the majors for a while, most recently at the Masters, before the rule was abolished in November 2020.

What was the Genesis Invitational cut line in recent years?

Last year, the Genesis Invitational cut line settled at the 1-over par mark with the top 65 players and ties in the 129-man field advancing through to the weekend. Jon Rahm would go on to win at Riviera on Sunday after posting a final winning tally of 17-under.

In both 2022 and 2021, the cut line landed on even par with the fields of 120 being cut in half following the completion of 36 holes of action.

What makes the 2024 version of the Genesis Invitational unique?

With its reduced field and signature event status this year, the Genesis Invitational is set to become the first of the signature events to implement a cut.

Only three of this year's signature events, the Genesis, Arnold Palmer Invitational, and Memorial Tournament, are scheduled to reduce their field down to the top 50 players and ties following 36 holes of play, the other five will operate under a no-cut format.

2024 marks the first time since the event first received invitational status in 2020 that fewer than 100 players have competed in the Genesis.

What makes the implemented new format and cut rules potentially peculiar this year is that, while unlikely, due to the 10-shot rule as previously used in the majors, a scenario could arise where every player in the 70-man field could find themselves within ten shots of the leader following the conclusion of the second round.

The Genesis Invitational in 2024 would then turn into an event with a cut that doesn't make a cut at the halfway point. Wouldn't that be something?