PGA Tour Cut Policy

GARY BAINES: A Matter Of Perspective

PGA Tour Cuts it Close at Zurich Classic

Jobe, Kaye among those who scramble to play in final round after mixup

The PGA Tour instituted a new cut policy at the beginning of the year, then revised it in February. Now, by the look of things, everyone is thoroughly baffled.

For exhibit 1A, we point to the behind-the-scenes chaos over the weekend at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans — chaos which involved two prominent players with Colorado ties, Jonathan Kaye and Brandt Jobe.

In February, the Tour returned to its traditional 36-hole cut where the top 70 players and ties advance to round 3. But if more than 78 competitors survive the cut, a second cutdown — again to the top 70 and ties — will be made after 54 holes. The idea is to speed up play on Sunday — by paring field size with the second cut — and to make things run on time for television.

But a weather delay at the Zurich Classic on Saturday — which left 46 players to finish their third round on Sunday morning — led to considerable confusion. The second cut was scrapped, unbeknownst to a handful of players it would have affected in the field of 81, and those competitors had to scramble to adjust after thinking they were done playing for the week.

In fact, Jobe, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, arrived at Dallas’ airport on his way home only to find out he had to play the fourth round. He subsequently caught a plane back to New Orleans.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Also coming back after plane flights from New Orleans were two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen and Alex Cejka. Goosen and his private jet had landed in Orlando, Fla., and when he heard the news, he had his jet refueled and came back to New Orleans on Saturday night. But because his caddie was en route to Ireland, he used his pilot to tote his bag on Sunday.

"I don't think anybody knew the rule, not even (Tour) officials," Goosen said. "Otherwise, they would have told us to stay around (Saturday).

"All of us could have said 'Stuff it.’ It's not worth coming back. The prize money is not going to cover the expenses of turning around. But I wanted to honor the tournament and come back and play, make some money and pick up one or two FedEx Cup points."

Kaye, a Denver native who has won twice in his PGA Tour career, didn’t have quite the trip back. He and Masters champion Zach Johnson received the message to return while at the New Orleans airport. NBC’s Jimmy Roberts said Kaye’s clubs had to be pulled off a plane. Kaye also had had a close call on Friday, making the 36-hole cut on the number with a birdie on the 18th hole.

Cejka went to the most trouble to return. He was already en route to Las Vegas by the time he read a text message about the situation. He shelled out $400 to promptly fly from Vegas to Houston — the closest destination to New Orleans available on very short notice — rented a car and drove to the tournament site, arriving about an hour before his Sunday tee time. After just an hour of sleep on the plane, Cejka sucked down six Red Bulls to stay awake during his drive.

"I was anxious if I was going to make it," he said. "I didn't want to (come) all the way here and miss my tee time by 10 minutes."

The German then had to borrow clubs that weren’t his usual brand, get some clothes and golf shoes and secure a caddie for Round 4.

Despite everything working against him, Cejka shot a final-round 71.

Indeed, of the players who scrambled to return for Round 4, no one shot over 72. Kaye finished with a 71 and Jobe a 72. Goosen managed a 69.