Why so many players earn nothing
A typical full-field PGA Tour event starts 132 to 156 players and pays only those who make the 36-hole cut, usually the top 65 and ties. In a typical season about 45% of all official starts end in a missed cut and a $0 check.
The players who earn nothing in a season are rarely tour regulars. Most are Monday qualifiers, sponsor invitations, club professionals in the PGA Championship field and amateurs, who play one or two events. In 2026, 284 of 622 players who started an official event went home with nothing all year.
For regulars, a long run of missed cuts is expensive. Matt Every made 19 official starts in 2021 without cashing a check, while still paying for travel, caddie fees and lodging every week.
Missing cuts doesn't stop a player getting rich. Lucas Glover has missed 214 cuts in his career and still earned $43,063,480.
Players who earned $0, by season
Started at least one official event but cashed no checks.
Share of starts ending in a missed cut
The longest seasons without a check
Most official starts in one season with $0 earned.
| Player | Season | Official starts |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Every | 2021 | 19 |
| John Morgan | 2003 | 18 |
| Craig Perks | 2007 | 16 |
| Donald Constable | 2013 | 15 |
| Mark Wiebe | 2002 | 15 |
| Jon Curran | 2018 | 14 |
| Mike Weir | 2012 | 13 |
| Steve Flesch | 2012 | 12 |
| Brad Faxon | 2011 | 12 |
| John Morgan | 2004 | 12 |
| Robert Gamez | 2009 | 11 |
| Curtis Strange | 2003 | 11 |
| Chris Perry | 2002 | 11 |
| Kevin Stadler | 2020 | 10 |
| Carl Pettersson | 2018 | 10 |
| Mike Weir | 2016 | 10 |
| Len Mattiace | 2007 | 10 |
| Ted Potter Jr. | 2022 | 9 |
| Parker McLachlin | 2022 | 9 |
| Gunn Yang | 2015 | 9 |
Most missed cuts in a career
Many of these players still earned millions.
| Player | Starts | Missed cuts | Cut rate | Career prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Glover | 579 | 214 | 63% | $43,063,480 |
| Jonathan Byrd | 489 | 214 | 56% | $20,046,039 |
| D.A. Points | 379 | 213 | 44% | $11,912,454 |
| Nick Watney | 493 | 203 | 59% | $28,935,092 |
| Chris Stroud | 392 | 197 | 50% | $12,477,679 |
| Ben Crane | 464 | 195 | 58% | $21,571,038 |
| Pat Perez | 518 | 194 | 63% | $28,294,006 |
| Camilo Villegas | 454 | 191 | 58% | $23,739,687 |
| D.J. Trahan | 356 | 187 | 47% | $10,965,420 |
| Johnson Wagner | 350 | 180 | 49% | $12,301,570 |
| Chez Reavie | 431 | 179 | 58% | $21,973,129 |
| Jimmy Walker | 425 | 179 | 58% | $27,685,426 |
| Heath Slocum | 405 | 179 | 56% | $15,777,480 |
| Jason Dufner | 451 | 176 | 61% | $27,804,124 |
| Bill Haas | 480 | 175 | 64% | $31,013,042 |