2009 PGA Tour Statistical Odds and Ends, Driving Distance Included
The PGA Tour's Dave Lancer posts his "odds and ends" from the 2009 ShotLink data base. A few that caught my eye:
Charley Hoffman had the year's longest drive -- 467 yards on the first hole during the third round of the Valero Texas Open.
A total of 47 400-yard drives were recorded this year. Dustin Johnson had the most -- five.Who carries the ball the farthest off the tee on TOUR? J.B. Holmes at an average of 298.6 yards.
The 47 400+ drives prompted me to look back and see if that was a new record in the ShotLink era (though I'm sure Old Tom hit a few back in the day).
400+ drives:
47 2009
12 2008
26 2007
30 2006
18 2005
32 2004
35 2003
1 2002
1 2001
0 2000
1 1999
5 1998
0 1997
0 1996
0 1995
0 1994
0 1993
0 1992
I also opened Excel and tabulated the final 2009 PGA Tour Driving Distance average. I came up with 287.95, up from 287.3 last year. Just remember that small up-tick in case we hear that distance numbers have been on a steady decline since spring-like effect was more tightly regulated.
And I suppose it should be stated that the advent of drug testing did not ignite a major decline. Not that anyone thought the spike in distance had anything to do with performance enhancing drugs.
While the averages are down from the peak in 2005 and 2006, the driving distance numbers remain astounding compared to where we were in 2000-2002.
Consider the number of players averaging over 300 yards.
In 2009, 13 players averaged over 300 yards (same number as 2008).
Only 1 player averaged over 300 in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
In 2009, 77 players averaged over 290 yards. The 2008 number was 74 averaging over 290.
To put that in perspective, just 18 players averaged over 290 in 2002.
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 02:34 PM
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Reader Comments (15)
"No one in the top 10 in greens in regulation for the season won a tournament this year."
And in looking at that category further it appears only 2 of the top 26 in GIR this year won a PGA Tour event in 2009. Tiger and Troy Matteson. Sean O'Hair was 27th.
3 players in the top 10 in driving accuracy won events in '09 (Gay, Slocum & Z. Johnson)
Only 1 player in the top 10 in driving accuracy was in the top 10 in GIR - Joe Durant. He was 182nd on the money list. T180 in putts per round, 137th in puts per GIR and 176th in scrambling. Ouch.
17 of those 47 drives were at LaCantera (1st and 11th holes)
and 21 drives were at Kapalua (12th, 17th, and 18th holes)
so that leaves 9 drives that might have occurred at other courses
Grip it and rip it but at the same time they should slick the greens, grow rough and get toothless rakes!
Actually, the Tour does not include Kapalua drives and never has because it would throw the numbers off. Nice try though. Swing again.
AA,
Great point, except, how does that explain John Daly or Tim Herron or Billy Mayfair increasing their driving distance during the same period?
You're really going to call a statistical difference of less than 0.25% an up-tick? Come on, Geoff, you're better than this. How would you react if the driving distance was down 23 inches on average last year? That's what you're calling a "small up-tick", 23 inches. Anyone could argue that one rainy or wet course would have caused that drop.
It is interesting that we've seen no change this year from 2008. It will be (potentially) delightfully telling at this time next year to see what's happened to average driving distance once the new groove rules kick in. Will some golfers rein themselves in, trying to control the ball more since bomb and gouge may not be such a reliable technique? Can't wait to see.
Everyone who knows me here knows that I'm on Geoff's side as far as distance control and such. Our arguments are diminished, though, when we make unnecessary and undefendable reaches such as calling the driving average a "small up-tick" for this year. That's my point.
Alternatively, Geoff wrote this as tongue in cheek, to see if he could get posters to react. In which case, I salute you, you magnificent bastard! :)
2003, optimization was eliminated, the USGA's Phase II test and Iron Byron were outsmarted. Golf ball manufactures learned that their balls could pass these test under Iron Byron's strikes, but if launch angles were changed spin rates would change and the balls would go farther.
Add in faster swing speeds (am I to assume that could be accomplished through lighter clubs??) and you've got the distances increases we see noted above.
I think I got it.
So you are saying what?
Tour pros are hitting farther because of shaft technology?
Tour pros are hitting farther because of better fitting?
Dubs are hitting it farther due to better fitting?
We should put restrictions on shafts?
Personally I feel players will continue to hit the ball farther and farther as shaft technology improves. Lighter and better kick points will be two factors.
There is no question whatsoever that the reason for the differences between the 2000-02 figures and the 2009 figures is the golf ball. What I am saying is there are also other reasons for distance gains during that same period, shaft technology being one of the main ones.
What I would like explained is why there were 35 drives over 400 yards in 2003, yet only 18 in 2005 and 12 in 2008 with a huge bounce up to 47 this year. Obviously certain golf courses under ideal weather conditions will lend themselves more to long driving. I don't think anyone hit it 400+ at soggy Bethpage this year. Do you think these differences are solely down to course and weather conditions? Or other factors?
That being said ----the shaft and the computer is more important than any ball for distance, though the ball does contribute.