golfrewind.com

Much of the focus on why Tiger didn't win yesterday have been on his putting and how he ranked at the bottom of the field in total putts. But is this really a fair measure of how well he putted? Sure, he didn't putt great, but was it as bad as the number makes it seem? I don't believe so.

Woods led the field in Greens-in-Regulation, hitting 75% (despite hitting only 50% of fairways). Generally, if he's hitting the ball on the green from, say, 150 out, he's not going to get it as close to the pin as someone chipping from just off the green. And so he'll be left with much longer and more difficult putts than someone who misses the green and chips on.

This is not meant to be a Tiger defense in any way. I simply think that number of putts is an overrated statistic. The final score on the leaderboard is what matters.

Definitely an overrated stat. More meaningful is puts-per-GIR.

I am not sure if it is over rated or not. However when Tiger was smoking people in 1999-2000 he was #1 in driving distance, GIR, and he was putting well. If he keeps the stats up and puttes well again there going to be a lot of crying on the PGA tour because he will wiping everybody again.

Waz is right, total putts don't tell the whole story unless they are more than 36... I have had rounds where I took just 21 putts but I definitely did not shoot under par, just missed a lot of greens.

I think it comes down to how many of those first putts were make-able...for sake of argument, being on the green for 18 holes out of 18 and leaving only say 6 as make-able because the other 12 were from outside of 25 or 30 feet doesn't mean that one is a bad putter...if you have say 33 or so putts while hitting 18/18 greens.

They don't factor in how long the putts were and the 'make-able" factor as well. You can have a lot of putts and still be putting well is what I'm trying to say, and as you noted with 21 putts while being able to get it close with your chips is misleading too.

Isn't Shot Link able to tell how far these putts are the pros are having? I've seen coverage where they'd say he has 5 feet 10 inches here to go for this putt...how's that come about where Shot Link is used and not used in tournaments???

The number of putts is definitely misleading...

I don't think ShotLink is used in majors golf-a-holic....just like you can't see any stats for majors on pgatour.com...since pgatour.com runs shotlink, I'd assume they wouldn't have it available in USGA, R&A, PGA or AN events.

I agree with Waz...putts per GIR is more meaningful...the only way it can really be skewed is if someone consistently hits it close and has short ones for birdie...and in that case, I think they deserve to have their stats skewed a little!

stlcard_25,

Thanks for the information, where about are you from? Near Culbertson Hills in Edinboro at all? Reason I ask is that I'll be heading up that way in August to hook up with friends I have from Buffalo and wondered if you may be interested in partaking a round with us if/when we decide a date?

Jim -

Edinboro is about an hour or so drive from here golf-a-holic. Many of my friends attend Edinboro University as it's probably the closest one here, but I've never actually stopped in the town itself. My work schedule (gotta make some money while I'm home for the summer and still have time ) makes it tough for me to travel very far to play but it's possible I might be able to find some free time then, depending on what day you'll be up there. PM me as the time gets closer and you have solid details on when you'll be coming and I'll check into it whether I can play then or not.

I think number of putts is an important stat but as mentioned earlier, it doesn't tell the whole story. The rounds where I usually have the least number of putts are the rounds where I miss the most greens.

Sounds like a plan, I'll do that. Take care.

The number of putts was the sole reason Retief Goosen didn't win. Everyone says he was all over the place and he choked, but that's false. He actually hit more greens and fairways than not. But had 36 putts, including 3 3-putts. He missed a 5-foot par on 2, a 5-foot par on 3, a 7-foot birdie on 4, and a 5-poot par on 5. Simply put, his putter let him down. He either didn't read the greens the same or something changed in his putting stroke. But he makes those 4 short putts on the first 5 holes, he's probably holding the trophy right now. What happened on the back 9 was solely b/c he was out of contention and gave up. He wouldn't have shot an 81 if he was in contention on the back nine, or even had the lead.