Strokes gained data - best of for major categories for past 6-10 years

[nevets88]

So Baddeley is the best putter, but surprise, surprise, he hasn't been playing well for awhile. Surprised to see Stricker in the SG approach to green category. Lots of little interesting stats in the article, not just in the tables.

Quote

BEST APPROACH-THE-GREEN PERFORMERS IN PAST SIX SEASONS
Player	Average strokes gained	Rounds
1. Jim Furyk	+0.881 per round	377
2. Hideki Matsuyama	+0.821	134
3. Paul Casey	+0.776	151
4. Henrik Stenson	+0.734	168
5. Steve Stricker	+0.708	198
6. Luke Donald	+0.645	297
7. Justin Rose	+0.616	333
8. Chad Campbell	+0.610	450
9. Rory McIlroy	+0.574	169
10. Adam Scott	+0.546	270

http://www.pgatour.com/news/2016/05/31/strokes-gained-historical-stats.html

[saevel25]

 Bubba gains a stroke a round on the field just with his tee shots

It's kinda surprising to see Spieth not in the top ten putting. My best guess is because he's not a good putter inside 10'.

2016: T136
2015: T52
2014: 91
2013: 123

 

 

 

[DaveP043]

41 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

 It's kinda surprising to see Spieth not in the top ten putting. My best guess is because he's not a good putter inside 10'.

Since this is intended to cover 6 entire seasons, I wonder of Spieth has played enough rounds to qualify for ranking.

[dchoye]

25 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

Since this is intended to cover 6 entire seasons, I wonder of Spieth has played enough rounds to qualify for ranking.

Yea He would be 16 years old. 6 seasons ago.

Amazing how quickly he become successful. Seems like he's been on tour for a long time.

[RandallT]

Luke Donald one of the top approach players AND one of the top putters. I'm sure that combination was why he was ranked #1 2011 and some of 2012- gets it close and putts well. If only he could've driven further to make the approaches shorter. The Luke Donald era seems ages ago. Currently #77.

Interesting McIlroy, Scott, and Stenson made the driving and the approach play lists. If you add up drives and approaches (both full swing), all 3 of them gained well about 1.2-1.4 strokes per round better than the field (roughly 5 better per tournament- not bad). 

And Jason Day making only the putting list surprises me.

Lastly, this makes you realize that the best players are likely somewhere between 1 and 2 strokes better than the entire field on average (for long periods of time, anyway- 6 years is a long period to analyze!!). That's pretty good parity that allows relative "unknowns" have better than normal rounds to compete with the big names. No surprise there, because that's what we see every week.

 

 

 

[saevel25]

5 minutes ago, RandallT said:

And Jason Day making only the putting list surprises me.

I believe Day had a few injuries in late 2011 and into 2012, and his son was born in 2012 as well. He struggled a lot in the 2012 season. Probably why he's not on that list. 

[natureboy]

6 hours ago, nevets88 said:

Surprised to see Stricker in the SG approach to green category.

I'm thinking that has to do with where the line was divided between 'around green' and 'approach'. The PGA-specific breakdown may not use Broadie's measure of out to 100 yards as 'short game'. PGA usually defines around green as within 30 yards.

Stricker is exceptional in gaining strokes from 60 to 100 yards and that likely extends in to 30 yards. Broadie did an article on 'No Man's Land' that details it.

http://www.golf.com/instruction/mark-broadie-how-survive-no-mans-land