🐴 Git Along Little Doggie
Wells Fargo Review & Byron Nelson Preview | Stats, Trends & More!
Welcome back to another peek into my brain. That’s really what these emails are when you think about it. Little things that I wonder and consider over the course of a week, then I take the time to look it up and distribute it to you.
The shocking part is how many of you actually enjoy this! You’re all just as sick as I am.
See you in Rochester,
Rick
🏆 Last Week’s Optimal Lineup
🏇 Fading Around The Quarter Pole
Last week, I noted that Rory McIlroy had elite course history at Quail Hollow, gaining 2.86 strokes per round — the third best mark of any golfer at any course.
After a disappointing T47 finish, his SG dropped to 2.60 per round and it’s now the 7th best golfer/course combination on TOUR.
*min 20 rounds
🍾 Club 19 Welcomes Wyndham Clark
Wyndham Clark’s victory was impressive and historic. He gained 19.49 strokes to the field which marks only the 5th time a golfer has gained 19+ strokes in an event on TOUR dating back to the start of 2020.
❓ Trivia!
Since 2008, there have been 46 instances of a golfer on TOUR gaining 19+ strokes to the field. Of those, 43/46 have gone on to win. That means there are three golfers/tournament instances where he gained 19+ strokes to the field and didn’t win.
Name them.
(Answer at bottom of the email)
🐥 Easy Scoring Conditions
TPC Craig Ranch has offered little (no?) resistance over the last two years. The winning scores were 26-under last year and 25-under in 2021. That’s so deep under par that the TOUR actually converted the course to a par-71 this year.
Remember, this course is still easy — par is just a social construct. Here are the best players in the field on “Easy Courses”.
🕸️ The TOUR’s Web Stretches Wide
Tournament Players Club (TPC) is a chain of courses operated by the PGA TOUR. Obviously, because of the affiliation, they host lots on events on the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour.
They are also home to many professionals who can play and practice without restriction. There are some guys who just torch these places, evidence below:
🐘 Everything Is Bigger In Texas
TPC Craig Ranch will sport some sizable greens this week, checking in at 6,778 square feet on average. That certainly skews larger than TOUR average which create an interesting dilemma or two. Here are the best golfers since the start of the 2019 season on greens larger than 6,500 sq. ft.
Notice anything? For the most part, all of these golfers are either great approach player OR great putters. Which … makes sense. On large greens you can separate yourself from the field by hitting it closer, to the right quadrant and giving yourself the proper putt. Or you can hit better lag putts, avoid three putting and roll in more birdies.
The combination of large greens + a birdie-fest makes it easy to see why these two skill-sets would be quite valuable this week.
🎯 SG: Flush N’ Roll
Building off the previous section, here are the best players in the field over the last 36 round in ‘SG: Flush N’ Roll’ — which is approach plus putting. Someone please come up with a better name for this.
⭐ The Lone Star State
When the TOUR announced their new designated versus non-designated schedule, guys like Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth insisted they will still play as many events in Texas as possible, despite not having massive purses.
They’ve held up their end of the bargain this week including Scheffler who skipped Charlotte but will play here. It’s no surprise they rank first and second in rounds played in Texas since 2019.
Here’s how the stats shake out in the Lone Star State.
⚠️ In Case You Missed It
📈TPC Craig Ranch will play as a par-71 this year with #12 being converted from a 547 yard par-5 to a 493 yard par-4. You can view the updated scorecard here.
Trivia Answer:
Phil Mickelson +25.58 at 2016 Open Championship, lost to Henrik Stenson.
Jon Rahm +21.02 at 2021 Memorial, forced to WD with positive COVID test after R3.
Tony Finau +19.03 at 2018 WGC- HSBC Championship, lost to Xander Schauffele.