Comments on: Masters Numbers http://thesandtrap.com/columns/the_numbers_game/masters_numbers Golf News, Reviews, and Commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:05:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Not So Fast Tiger | The Sand Trap http://thesandtrap.com/columns/the_numbers_game/masters_numbers#comment-2383 Not So Fast Tiger | The Sand Trap Tue, 04 Apr 2006 14:51:36 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/masters_numbers/#comment-2383 Tiger Woods is the definite favorite at Augusta this year, but this week won't be his week. Tiger Woods is the definite favorite at Augusta this year, but this week won't be his week.

]]> By: Andy Greenwald http://thesandtrap.com/columns/the_numbers_game/masters_numbers#comment-2382 Andy Greenwald Thu, 23 Mar 2006 23:54:23 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/uncategorized/masters_numbers/#comment-2382 Nice research. Unfortunately, many traditional golf stats are not the best measure. Driving distance is not measured on each and every hole, only select holes. Driving distance is not strokes. Putting is. One has to take advantage of the extra distance to truly gain from the longer drive. Taking advantage means decent wedge play and good putting. Hitting a Par 5 in 2 versus 3. Therefore, distance is not a great individual statistic by itself or a great indicator for winning any golf tournament. The question is to try to find out how meaningful the extra 25 yards of a drive is worth at Augusta or hitting a 5 iron to a green instead of a 6 iron. Please note that this "worthy-ness" would vary depending on the hole and the conditions and the player. You would need to have the same player hit a statistically significant number of balls to a green from 175, 150, and 125 to see if the 25 yards is worth anything from a scoring standpoint for that particular golfer. This would provide you with a "worthy-ness" quotient that each player could think through when making their decision on the tee. Just my humble thoughts. Nice research.

Unfortunately, many traditional golf stats are not the best measure. Driving distance is not measured on each and every hole, only select holes. Driving distance is not strokes. Putting is.

One has to take advantage of the extra distance to truly gain from the longer drive. Taking advantage means decent wedge play and good putting. Hitting a Par 5 in 2 versus 3. Therefore, distance is not a great individual statistic by itself or a great indicator for winning any golf tournament.

The question is to try to find out how meaningful the extra 25 yards of a drive is worth at Augusta or hitting a 5 iron to a green instead of a 6 iron.

Please note that this "worthy-ness" would vary depending on the hole and the conditions and the player.

You would need to have the same player hit a statistically significant number of balls to a green from 175, 150, and 125 to see if the 25 yards is worth anything from a scoring standpoint for that particular golfer. This would provide you with a "worthy-ness" quotient that each player could think through when making their decision on the tee.

Just my humble thoughts.

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