Which statistic is most important in women's golf?
We looked at last years top 10 on the LPGA money list and took the 4 main stats, driving accuracy, driving distance, GIR and putts per GIR to see which one was the most important in order to finish higher up the money list. Which one do you think it will be?
1. Driving Distance, in yards & (rank compared to the rest of the LPGA)
2. Driving Accuracy %
3. GIR %
4. Puts per GIR
1. Jin Young Ko (South Korea)
Driving Distance- 76th (258)
Driving Accuracy- 9th (80.94%)
GIR- 1st (79.56%)
Putts Per GIR- 5th (1.75)
2. Brooke Henderson (Canada)
Driving Distance- 10th (272)
Driving Accuracy- 77th (71.99%)
GIR- 14th (74.72%)
Putts Per GIR- 12th (1.76)
3. Minjee Lee (Australia)
Driving Distance- 36th (265)
Driving Accuracy- 104th (69.55%)
GIR- 6th (75.61%)
Putts Per GIR- 19th (1.77)
4. Jeongeun Lee6 (South Korea)
Driving Distance- 34th (265)
Driving Accuracy- 41st (75.19%)
GIR- 8th (75.36%)
Putts Per GIR- 38th (1.79)
5. Nelly Korda (USA)
Driving Distance- 16th (270)
Driving Accuracy- 47th (74.81%)
GIR- 3rd (76.5%)
Putts Per GIR- 16th (1.77)
6. Sung Hyun Park (South Korea)
Driving Distance- 6th (275)
Driving Accuracy- 97th (70.42%)
GIR- 7th (75.53%)
Putts Per GIR- 8th (1.76)
7. Sei Young Kim (South Korea)
Driving Distance- 24th (268)
Driving Accuracy- 91st (71.16%)
GIR- 15th (74.7%)
Putts Per GIR- 24th (1.78)
8. Danielle Kang (USA)
Driving Distance- 50th (262)
Driving Accuracy- 46th (74.87%)
GIR- 9th (75.08%)
Putts Per GIR- 11th (1.76)
9. Lexi Thompson (USA)
Driving Distance- 5th (276)
Driving Accuracy- 145 (63.27%)
GIR- 4th (76.06%)
Putts Per GIR- 61st (1.80)
10. Hyo Joo Kim (South Korea)
Driving Distance- 154th (244.7)
Driving Accuracy- 7th (81.22%)
GIR- 97th (67.62%)
Putts Per GIR- 1st (1.72)
Adding up everyone's position will give an average of the top 10 players, and here is how the stats ranked!
1. GIR- Average position: 16.4th (7 in the top 10)
2. Putts per GIR- Average position: 19.5 (4 in the top 10)
3. Driving Distance- Average position: 41.1 (3 in the top 10)
4. Driving Accuracy- Average position: 66.4 (2 in the top 10)
The stats again match up from those of last year. GIR remains the most important stat with Putts per GIR 2nd. However, when looking at the top of the women's game their putts per GIR can be separated by a small number. The difference between Hyo Joo Kim in 1st for putts per GIR was only 0.08 ahead of Lexi who finished 61st.
Hitting greens is vital for success on the LPGA and those who are ranked high on putting will win multiple titles. Again driving distance tends to be more favorable than driving accuracy.
The main thing when compared to 2018 stats, is the game has improved. 7 of these players finished in the top 10 for GIR and in most categories you need to be near the top 10 to have success on the Race to the Globe.
2018 results
1. GIR- Average position: 14.8th (5 in the top 10)
2. Putts per GIR- Average position: 19th (3 in the top 10)
3. Driving distance- Average position: 26.7th (3 in the top 10)
4. Driving accuracy- Average position: 80.6th (1 in the top 10)