Strokes gained at the Valero Texas Open: Walker wins by four

Jimmy Walker won the Valero Texas Open by four strokes over Jordan Spieth. Walker moved up to tenth place in the Official World Golf Rankings after his fifth PGA TOUR victory. Spieth moved up to fourth in the world rankings after his second place finish.

Strong winds caused havoc with the morning starters in the first round. Afternoon starters in the first round averaged about four strokes less than the early starters. Of the top ten finishers, only Dustin Johnson had a morning tee time in the first round.

Walker and Spieth finished first and second in the tournament and in strokes gained putting. The top ten finishers in the tournament gained 44 percent of their advantage on the field with better putting. Here’s a strokes gained breakdown of the top ten finishers at the Valero Texas Open:

Strokes gained per round (ranks in parentheses)
Golfer Total Drive Appr Short Putt
Jimmy Walker 5.0 (1) 0.5 (19) 0.8 (20) 1.1 (9) 2.6 (1)
Jordan Spieth 4.0 (2) 0.6 (17) 0.9 (17) 0.1 (45) 2.4 (2)
Billy Horschel 3.3 (3) 1.1 (5) 0.9 (18) -0.2 (56) 1.5 (6)
Daniel Summerhays 3.0 (T4) 0.6 (15) 1.1 (12) 0.1 (42) 1.2 (10)
Chesson Hadley 3.0 (T4) 0.8 (10) 1.1 (14) -0.7 (69) 1.8 (3)
Dustin Johnson 2.8 (T6) 1.4 (1) 0.7 (27) 0.8 (23) 0.0 (44)
Ryan Palmer 2.8 (T6) 1.1 (4) 1.1 (13) -0.8 (71) 1.3 (8)
Scott Pinckney 2.5 (T8) 0.5 (20) 0.3 (40) 0.1 (44) 1.7 (4)
Brendan Steele 2.5 (T8) -0.1 (49) 0.5 (32) 1.8 (1) 0.4 (33)
Chris Kirk 2.5 (T8) 0.3 (27) 0.5 (33) 0.7 (26) 1.0 (14)
Top 10 average 3.2 0.7 0.8 0.3 1.4
Fraction of total 100% 22% 25% 9% 44%

Here’s a round-by-round strokes gained breakdown Walker’s play at the Valero Texas Open:

Strokes gained per round (ranks in parentheses) Rank
Jimmy Walker Total Drive Appr Short Putt out of
2015 Season 2.3 (3) 0.3 (40) 0.8 (8) 0.2 (57) 1.0 (1) 181
Valero Texas Open 5.0 (1) 0.5 (19) 0.8 (20) 1.1 (9) 2.6 (1) 75
Round 1 5.7 (9) 1.3 (11) 1.4 (35) 0.2 (72) 2.8 (6) 141
Round 2 6.4 (1) 0.4 (45) 1.8 (15) 0.4 (60) 3.8 (1) 137
Round 3 4.8 (5) 0.7 (16) -0.5 (49) 2.3 (2) 2.3 (8) 75
Round 4 3.3 (11) -0.3 (52) 0.7 (23) 1.4 (12) 1.5 (18) 75

Here’s a round-by-round strokes gained breakdown Spieth’s play at the Valero Texas Open:

Strokes gained per round (ranks in parentheses) Rank
Jordan Spieth Total Drive Appr Short Putt out of
2015 Season 2.6 (1) 0.5 (20) 0.6 (22) 0.7 (5) 0.9 (3) 181
Valero Texas Open 4.0 (2) 0.6 (17) 0.9 (17) 0.1 (45) 2.4 (2) 75
Round 1 5.7 (10) 0.0 (67) 1.5 (33) 1.1 (36) 3.0 (4) 141
Round 2 4.4 (9) 1.1 (16) 2.2 (9) 0.7 (47) 0.5 (61) 137
Round 3 2.8 (11) 0.5 (26) 0.0 (39) -0.8 (53) 3.1 (3) 75
Round 4 3.3 (13) 0.8 (15) 0.1 (33) -0.7 (54) 3.1 (1) 75

Here’s a strokes gained breakdown of the final round for the top ten finishers at the Valero Texas Open:

Strokes gained in the final round (ranks in parentheses)
Player Total Drive Appr Short Putt
Jimmy Walker 3.3 (T10) -0.3 (52) 0.7 (23) 1.4 (12) 1.5 (18)
Jordan Spieth 3.3 (T10) 0.8 (15) 0.1 (33) -0.7 (54) 3.1 (1)
Billy Horschel 2.3 (T17) 1.2 (8) -0.2 (35) -0.4 (49) 1.6 (15)
Daniel Summerhays 4.3 (T6) 0.6 (18) 1.9 (11) -1.0 (58) 2.8 (4)
Chesson Hadley 2.3 (T17) 0.1 (38) 1.3 (22) -0.3 (47) 1.2 (23)
Dustin Johnson 5.3 (T1) 1.9 (2) 1.9 (14) 1.1 (17) 0.4 (33)
Ryan Palmer 5.3 (T1) 0.8 (14) 2.0 (8) 0.6 (31) 1.9 (11)
Scott Pinckney 0.3 (T34) 0.9 (13) -0.7 (50) -1.6 (63) 1.6 (14)
Brendan Steele 0.3 (T34) -0.5 (56) -0.4 (39) 0.7 (30) 0.6 (29)
Chris Kirk 1.3 (T24) 1.1 (11) -2.5 (72) 0.9 (24) 1.9 (10)

This post appeared originally on pgatour.com here


A very brief explanation of strokes gained:
Strokes gained is a measure of the quality of a golf shot. A shot with positive strokes gained indicates a better-than-average shot for a PGA TOUR pro. For example, suppose on a difficult par-4 that the PGA TOUR average score is 4.2. An average drive for a PGA TOUR player would reduce the average strokes to hole out by one, from 4.2 to 3.2. If a player hit a long drive into the fairway where the PGA TOUR average strokes to hole out is 2.9, then the shot gained 0.3 strokes compared to the PGA TOUR average. If a player hit a short drive into the rough where the PGA TOUR average strokes to hole out is 3.4, then the shot lost 0.2 strokes compared to the PGA TOUR average. Strokes gained from all shots are accumulated and grouped into convenient categories to measure the performance of players in a round, tournament, or season. For example, the gain from all tee shots on par-4 and par-5 holes is strokes gained driving measure. The gain from all shots starting outside 100 yards from the hole, excluding tee shots on par-4 and par-5 holes, is strokes gained from approach shots.

 

2 thoughts on “Strokes gained at the Valero Texas Open: Walker wins by four

  1. Frank Jersey

    Hi Mark,
    Love the book and the myth busting!

    Having a bit of trouble following the last paragraph of page 116 and table 6.4. ” Out of the top 11 golfers in total strokes gained, two are rated outside the top 100 in driving….”
    I don’t see it. Which two? All else makes sense.
    Thanks!

    Reply

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