Starting this week at the Honda Classic, the tour will return to a traditional 36-hole cut for the top 70 and ties. If more than 78 players make the cut, there will be another cut to the top 70 and ties after the third round.
The cut policy changed this year to avoid large fields on the weekend, which led to rounds lasting five-and-a-half hours and disrupted the television window. When the cut was more than 78 players, the nearest number to 70 advanced to the weekend, while the others received last-place money.
Numerous players complained that they didn't have a chance to move up the leaderboard over the final two rounds to at least get into the top 10 and earn valuable Ryder Cup or FedEx Cup points, not to mention money.
Eighteen players at the Sony Open and 19 players at the Buick Invitational were kept from playing on the weekend under the previous policy.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/2/207390