In this series, we will examine how current PGA Tour players have performed above or below their baseline on specific types of courses or in specific conditions. For this research, and in order to draw sharper contrasts in player skill, it will not be a golfer’s Strokes Gained (SG) Total baseline that will be analyzed. Instead, it will be their baseline in the opposite data point of what we are comparing it with so as to best identify those players with the greatest SG Total disparity between the two categories.
Today we are analyzing the best and worst players in Strokes Gained per round in tournaments with a high strength of field rating compared to their performance in events that have a weak field. To qualify for inclusion as a “strong field” event, tournaments need a strength rating of 500 or higher according to the Official World Golf Ranking. Tournaments with a rating below 250 were classified as “weak field” events.
As you can imagine, a large majority of golfers perform below their baseline in tournaments that have the best competition. The four majors along with World Golf Championship events, the PLAYERS Championship, FedEx Cup Playoff events, and the Memorial Tournament, among a few others, make up the events with the strongest competition. As for one Will Zalatoris, as you can see below, the evidence definitely backs up the theory that he seemingly plays tremendously well in every strong field event. As good as Zalatoris is in the upper-tier events, the struggle is real for Maverick McNealy who is losing an average of 1.57 strokes per round compared to his non-strong field event baseline.
Here are the best and worst performers since 2019 in strong field events. Those charts will be followed by the best and worst golfers above or below their baseline in all other events which we will call “non-strong field events”. Golfers needed a minimum of 20 rounds played in each field category to qualify.
Best SG: AVG in Strong Field Events
Worst SG: AVG in Strong Field Events
Best +/- SG: AVG in Strong Field Events
Worst +/- SG: AVG in Strong Field Events
If Zalatoris is the king of strong field events, Patrick Cantlay wears the crown in weaker ones. This ranking is more highly populated with the best overall players on the PGA Tour as you would expect most of them to be able to dominate tournaments with lesser competition – though we all know that is not always the case. Here are the best and worst performers since 2019 in weak field events. Those charts will be followed by the best and worst golfers above or below their baseline in all other events which we will call “non-weak field events”. Golfers needed a minimum of 20 rounds played in each field category to qualify.
Best SG: AVG in Weak Field Events
Worst SG: AVG in Weak Field Events
Best +/- SG: AVG in Weak Field Events
Worst +/- SG: AVG in Weak Field Events
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