Quicken Loans National Trends

Congressional Country Club hosts the Quicken Loans National for a seventh time and after a brief hiatus (played at Robert Trent Jones course last year) it should provide a stern test. In 2014 it was the hardest par-71 on tour (excluding majors) and only 10 players finished in the red.

Congressional plays as a par-71, as it did in the 2011 US Open, with the sixth hole converted into a par-5. At 7,569 yards it is the second longest course on tour behind Torrey Pines South.

These are the trends of the last six winners of the Quicken Loans National at Congressional:

Top-70 on tour for adjusted scoring average
Perhaps the most important metric all week, the last five winners ranked inside the top-20 for scoring average on tour. The cream usually rises to the top at Congressional.

Top-70 on tour for strokes gained putting
Congressional might be long but it isn’t a bombers’ course. The tournament is often won on the greens, five of the last six winners ranked inside the top-70 for strokes gained putting.

Top-70 on tour for strokes gained around the greens
The rough is long and the greens firm, putting an emphasis on scrambling. Five of the last six winners ranked inside the top-70 on tour for this metric.

Top-70 on tour for strokes gained tee-to-green
The honours board is full of top-class players and the last five winners ranked inside the top-50 for strokes gained tee-to-green.

Top-70 on tour for strokes gained approach-to-green
Congressional is not the sort of course you can win on if one facet of your game isn’t working. A common thread amongst past winners has been the ability to gained strokes on the field with thier approach play.

Players that fit four out of the five trends:
Rickie Fowler 14/1
Charley Hoffman 33/1
Kevin Chappell 40/1
Roberto Castro 50/1
Patton Kizzire 100/1
Tim Wilkinson 150/1