PGA Tour Stat Expanding to Better Analyze Player Performance
Name a sport that relies on statistics for every part of the game, and golf should definitely be somewhere on the list. It is a game filled with numbers and data so players can better understand their performance, strengths and weaknesses. For more than 20 years, players are analyzing this data to know their driving distance, their earnings, and their scoring average. To further break down the statistics and allow players to have even more data at their fingertips, the PGA Tour expanded one of their important statistics into three separate components to provide a holistic modern approach to their data gathering.
Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green Expansion
On June 1st, the PGA Tour took a step in increasing the amount of data used to gauge a player's non-putting performance. The Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green statistic was used to compare the player's performance to the rest of the competition out on the field to track proficiency based on distance for every green. Now, under this category will be three main statistic components: Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green and Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green.
Off-the-Tee
This category will show data for par 4-hole and par 5-hole tee shots. When a player is involved in events and season-level play, they will be able to determine their average strokes gained per round that will be compared to their competitions. This measurement is figured out by adding together all total strokes gained and total strokes lost off the tee, and then dividing this amount by the number of rounds the player has played.
Approach-the-Green
This component will track the tee shot for a par 3 hole, as well as the first shot that immediately follows the tee shot made on the par 4 hole and par 5 hole. As with the Off-the-Tee category, statistics for season-level and event games will be gathered by adding together all strokes that are gained or lost when a player approaches the green, and then the number will be divided by the number of played rounds. The player will then be able to figure out the average strokes gained per round.
Around-the-Green
For the Around-the-Green data, every non-green shot, which is within 30 yards of the edge of the green, will be measured. All strokes a player gained or lost around the green is added together. Then this number is divided by the number of rounds that have been played to determine average strokes gained per round to create season-level and event statistics.
Providing more analytical information to the sport is a worthy endeavor for the PGA Tour. By breaking up the Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green statistics, people can gain greater clarity into player performance and success.
