Most inportant stat to be leading at PGA tour event?

[popey]

Just wondering your opinion on what is the most important stat to be leading in a PGA tour event. The one that will help you the most to win.

Any other suggestions please add them.

[allin]

I would say the most important stat over time is GIR for PGA pros, but any given week putting can erase your deficience.

[Lumpy_22]

tough not to be a smart arse, but besides score, I would have to agree that G.I.R would be up there the most... Putting and Driving accuracy are others that would bear mention.

Driving distance usually dosen't net birdies, but does help with G.I.R... and putts are misleading, as you might have only 50% G.I.R and chip and 1 putt the others, along with a sandy or hole out from either option...

[RX Phoenix]

How about putts per GIR, that's where the story is, birdies and eagles.

[underpar]

Depends on the player, on any given event depending on rough length if your able to muscle the ball from the rough consistently then driver accuracy doesn't really matter. however, the pros are ridiculous ball strikers and that is why i would have to say driving accuracy would have to be most important. Starting the hole off right and putting yourself in the position to make the approach easier or being able to lay up to your perfect yardage to 600 yard par 5's is crucial. I do agree heavily that putts per gir is a deciding factor stat. however, the pros are all good putters, some are great but it is hard to be great for 4 days. Take Funk for example not the best putter, not the best short game, not the best long iron game, but a driving accuracy of over 80 % everytime he tees it up allows him to go low on a more consistent basis. While on the subject, shout out to Funk for the win this weekend bad back and all, wow!

[PalmIII]

When you consider that GIR is not that much different for the winner each week and the guy who finishes in 15th place, I think you have to go with putts.

I have heard many times that, basically, the guy who putts the best wins. If you are putting well, you are going to erase the bad fairly easily.

Also, if GIR was so important, guys like Fred Funk and Jay Haas would have won much more over the years.

[LarryK]

How about putts per GIR, that's where the story is, birdies and eagles.

I have to agree, but you can get those birdies and eagles either of two ways: by putting lights out from 20 feet and beyond or by being a fairly average putter who is a superb ball striker able to stick your approach shot 10 to 12 feet from the pin.

So, what is it more important to be: a great putter or great ball striker? Take your pick, but most tournament winners probably have both things going for them on any given week.

[golfchief]

I think they need two of the options to be the winner, gir and putts. gir's don't really mean much when your 20-30 feet from the hole every time.

[Small Fry]

Making good putts. Being solid on the greens. That is where I really see the guys helping themselves out on a round.