22nd Mar 2016 | WGC Match Play
WGC Match Play Trends
There is a change of format this week as the main event on tour is match play. We look at the trends of past winners.
The WGC Match Play moves to Austin Country Club in Texas for the first of a four year stint. The Peter Dye course is a par 72 and measures 7,169 yards, it has hosted tournaments on the Champions Tour and is famed for it’s deep pot bunkers.
16 groups of four players playing round-robin matches, Wednesday through Friday with group winners advancing to the knock-out stage.
These are the common trends of the past six champions (using Rory McIlory’s 2014 statistic because his 2015 was curtailed by injury).
Top-60 on tour for total putting
Match Play is usually decided on the greens, a common thread linking past champions. Six of the last seven winners ranked inside the top-60 on tour for total putting, a measure computed using six putting statistics.
Top-60 on tour for 3-putt avoidance
Avoiding 3-putts means you don’t gift holes to the opposition, but it also indicates all-round strength with the flat stick. The last seven winners ranked inside the top-60 on tour for this metric.
Top-60 on tour for strokes gained tee-to-green
You can also win a hole before getting onto the green. Players who excel tee-to-green can pressure their opponents into mistakes.
Top-60 on tour for adjusted scoring average
Six of the last seven winners ranked in the top-60 on tour for adjusted scoring average, as you would expect for a tournament comprising the best players in the world.
Players that fit all four trends:
Adam Hadwin
Chez Reavie
Jamie Lovemark
Jordan Spieth
Phil Mickelson
Rickie Fowler
Russell Henley
Wesley Bryan
Odds correct at time of publishing: 07:45 22nd Mar, 2016 but subject to change
