Which PGA Tour Statistical Leaders Can Top Rankings Again in 2016?
In an era of statistical abundance, golf fans are presented with a wealth of numerical data concerning the PGA Tour's finest.
In most statistical categories, players are so tightly bunched that finishing first and finishing 10th doesn't produce significantly different outcomes in a player's season. In a few categories, however, the player at the top of the totem poll is much more likely to repeat as No. 1 in the upcoming year.
Why? And in which categories?
Read on for five golfers likely to top the rankings again next year.
Driving Distance: Dustin Johnson
1 of 5
The stat: Driving distance (317.7 yards)
Why he could lead again: Standing 6''4'' tall, 31-year-old Dustin Johnson, physically fit as he is, isn't yet verging on anything that would make him physically unable to bomb the ball off the tee. The guy has never been outside the top five in driving distance in his 10 PGA Tour seasons.
Scoring Average: Jordan Spieth
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The stat: Scoring average (68.93)
Why he could lead again: No revolutionary thought here: Scoring average is the best indicator of overall performance. Jordan Spieth was the best overall player on the PGA Tour in 2015 and is in the ascendancy with two PGA Tour seasons under his belt.
As he's committed to improvement and continues to gain experience, Spieth is poised to repeat as scoring leader unless Rickie Fowler or Rory McIlroy usurps him.
Driving Accuracy: Francesco Molinari
3 of 5
The stat: Driving accuracy (76.88%)
Why he could lead again: Francesco Molinari was two percent better than anyone else on tour in driving accuracy during 2014-2015. It's important that the Italian find the fairway, as he placed 153rd in driving distance in 2014-15.
In other words, if he doesn't hit the fairway, he doesn't have a prayer. Expect Molinari, historically accurate off the tee, to continue finding fairways at a tour-leading pace.
Greens in Regulation: Henrik Stenson
4 of 5
The stat: Greens in regulation (73.52%)
Why he could lead again: A "fast cars" enthusiast (per his PGA Tour Media Guide entry), Henrik Stenson has led the tour in greens in regulation two out of the past three years. He's simply one of the best ballstrikers on the PGA Tour, and his swing produces remarkably consistent strikes and results.
Placed 12th on the tour in driving accuracy last year, and three yards longer off the tee than he was in 2013-2014, expect Stenson's GIR numbers to stay the same.
1-Putt Percentage: Jordan Spieth
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The stat: One-putt percentage (44.26%)
Why he could lead again: Jordan Spieth led the PGA Tour in one-putt percentage. The 22-year-old was also eighth in strokes gained: putting. In other words, the young Texan does some pretty good work with the flatstick.
One-putt percentage is a grinder's stat: It's indicative of the best putter who is able to make putts when he needs them, either for birdie or to save par. That man is Jordan Spieth. And last year wasn't a fluke: He led the tour in one-putt percentage in 2014 as well.
Stats via PGATour.com
