Best Predictors for Performance
Posted December 31st, 2004 by Erik J. Barzeski
What five key stats do the top players in the world have in common?
Tiger goes for the green. Vijay goes for the green. Phil Mickelson? Yep. Ernie Els? You bet.
According to Jaime Diaz and Steve Evans in a Golf Digest article, careful analysis of Shotlink statistics reveals that five stats in particular are important for high-ranking golfers:
…five others have clearly emerged as leading indicators and predictors of success: "birdie average," "par breakers," "par-5 scoring average," "par-5 birdie percentage" and "going for the green" (the percentage of times a player tries to drive a par 4 or hit a par 5 in two.) In these stats in 2004, the worst ranking recorded by any of the top five players in the world - Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Phil Mickelson - was eighth (Goosen in par breakers and Lefty in par-5 birdie percentage). Singh finished first in all but par-5 birdie percentage (Goosen led with 55.3). Woods and Els were in the top five in all five categories.
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