Key Golf Stats: What Do Your Numbers Tell You?

Have you been looking to improve your scoring? How about your golf game in general? Golf is more fun when you are hitting the ball well and posting good numbers. I found some interesting stats that were published from Golf Digest in 2001 and wanted to share them with everybody. It compares Tiger’s key stats with golfers of different abilities. If you want to play like Tiger, here is what your numbers should look like.

GIR (Greens in Regulation out of 18)

If your       You hit this
handicap is   many greens
36                  0
18                  3
9                   8
4.5                10
Scratch            12
Tiger              14 (12 in 2011)

Fairways hit per round (out of 14)

If your       You hit this
handicap is   many fairways
36                 0
18                 5
 9                 8
4.5               10
Scratch           11
Tiger             10 (7 in 2011)

Greenside up-and-downs (%)

If your       You get up and
handicap is   down this often
36                 0%
18                17
9                 46
4.5               60
Scratch           77
Tiger             85 (less than 75% in 2011)

Sand saves (%)

If your        You get up and down
handicap is   from sand this often
36                 0%
18                 0
9                  7
4.5               31
Scratch           51
Tiger             57.3 (44.8 in 2011)

Putts per round

If your       You take this
handicap is   many putts per 18
36                41
18                35
9                 32
4.5               30
Scratch           29
Tiger             28.76 (29.5 2011)

Copyright Golf Digest 2001

If you want to improve your game, the numbers have to show it. The easiest way to start scoring better: Work from ‘green to tee.’ Start with your putts, then chipping, sand shots, and hitting the green from 100 yards in. Basically start from strokes around the green and slowly work your way up to shots closer to the tee.

It comes as no surprise that Tiger is struggling this year. All of his key stats in 2011 (In red) are down compared to ten years ago. He is a +13 handicap and his stats this year are worst than a scratch player (0 Handicap). The numbers always tell a story. What do your numbers tell you?

With that said, I will see you on the first tee.