295-And-Up Club: This Year's Distance Spike In The Wraparound Era

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Many are pushing back on the notion of a 2017-18 driving distance bump on the PGA Tour. The pushback ranges from "it's too early" to "there has been too much roll due" to "who cares." 

A longtime reader "From Berckman's Road" saw today's post and the FiveThirtyEight.com coverage on distance and offered some numbers that would suggest we are seeing something different in the 2017-18 wraparound schedule.

Here are the numbers for players averaging over 295 yards on the measuring holes after the Honda Classic and at season's end.

2013-14
Honda:  45 players averaging 295 or higher
End of season:  49 averaging 295 or higher

2014-15
Honda:  50 players averaging 295 or higher
End of season:  53 averaging 295 or higher

2015-16
Honda:  65 players averaging 295 or higher
End of season:  55 averaging 295 or higher

2016-17
Honda:  63 players averaging 295 or higher
End of season:  77 averaging 295 or higher

2017-18
Honda:  111 players averaging 295 or higher
End of season:  __ averaging 295 or higher

So to review, 48 more players are averaging over 295 yards at this point compared to last year which was, admittedly, wetter than normal on the West Coast. However, the drought years prior to last year featured conditions more like this year give or take temperature swings and the 111 number still suggests a spike. 

History also tells us that as the temperatures rise during the season the final number is likely to finish higher than 111, not subside due to the West Coast Swing's running fairways.

I point this out because the governing bodies drew a line in the sand fifteen years ago and the numbers this year suggest the line has been crossed. 

**One last number:  the 295-and-up numbers for 2013 had 35 players averaging that or more through the Honda, and 36 by season's end.