The Masters first implemented a 36-hole cut in 1957, the tournament won by Doug Ford.
The change meant that players were evaluated after two rounds, or 36 holes, with only those meeting the cut standard advancing to the weekend rounds. In the 1957 Masters, 101 players started and 40 made the cut at 150, or six over par.
The new format created an immediate piece of Masters history. Ben Hogan, who had finished in the top 10 in each of his previous 14 Masters appearances, missed this first 36-hole cut by one stroke. It remained the only cut he missed at Augusta in his career.
Doug Ford ultimately won the tournament by three strokes over Sam Snead. The cut format has changed in details over the decades, including the number of players retained and the standard used, but the 1957 event marked the beginning of the modern 36-hole weekend structure at the Masters.