Golf Rankings: Who Are the 10 Best Mid-Range Players Right Now?

The very definition of the mid-range game is changing so much in golf.

Thanks to new technology, players are hitting 190-yard 8-irons in the right conditions. 3-woods are traveling over 300 yards, setting up 140-yard wedge shots.

While the proliferation of golf equipment has been a huge factor in today's game—and the reason for such current parity, according to Ernie Els—the mid-range game is becoming more important.

So many pros have great short games, but many of the highest ranked players in the world aren't even nearly the best from 100 yards and in, or on the greens.

Here are the 10 best mid-range players in the game right now.

10. Nick Watney

2012 has been a solid ball-striking year for Watney, still under the tutelage of world-renowned instructor Butch Harmon.

That hasn't been the problem for Watney. His putter has let him down immensely, ranking him 141st on the PGA Tour in total putting.

For a player who's risen to such great heights and sits at No. 30 in the world rankings, the putter has to be better.

Watney is among the most consistent iron players on Tour and is 29th in greens in regulation percentage despite ranking just 141st in driving accuracy.

The ability Watney has displayed to hit so many greens despite frequent trouble off the tee shows how good his mid-range game is.

9. Bubba Watson

Largely thanks to his world-class power, Watson leads the PGA Tour in greens in regulation, finding the surface over 72 percent of the time.

As I stated on the opening slide, technology is certainly having an effect on the definition of the mid-range game.

That 140-yard crazy hook shot Bubba pulled off to win the Masters was struck with a gap wedge. That's ridiculous.

Bubba golf has consisted of a lot of imagination even in shots that find the fairway. That is a rare occurrence, as he's just 130th in driving accuracy.

What's also hurting the 33-year-old is his putting, where he ranks 140th in strokes gained.

Watson is one of the more prominent players bending the meaning of the mid-range game, and it is a big reason for his success thus far in 2012.

8. Graeme McDowell

After a relatively poor year striking the ball in 2011, McDowell has rebounded in a big way this season.

Thanks to being second on Tour in driving accuracy, McDowell has frequently put himself in good position to score well, and he has converted.

McDowell ranks first in proximity to the hole from 150-175 yards out, and only two Tour players find the green more often from 175-200 yards away.

When his putting has been on, McDowell has shown he can win anywhere. He almost won his second U.S. Open championship this season.

As long as McDowell continues his steady mid-range play and can roll in a few more putts than usual, he should be a contender this week at Royal Lytham.

7. Hunter Mahan

The 10th-ranked player in the world has always carried the reputation of being among the best tee to green.

This year is no exception and is arguably Mahan's best showing of his career to date. He ranks sixth in total driving and third in GIR percentage (70.37 percent).

Mahan ought to have won a major by now, and if his incredible ball-striking continues, it's only a matter of time before the putter gets hot.

We saw at the WGC Match Play Championship how good Mahan can be when he is firing on all cylinders.

How good? Try 35 birdies in a stretch of 96 holes, as he went on to beat some guy named Rory McIlroy in the final match.

Not many players find the green as consistently as Mahan does on approaches ranging from 125-200 yards.

The only problem is that Mahan could hit it just a little closer from those distances to give himself better birdie opportunities.

Steady play and finding the middle of the green will likely be the name of the game this week at the British Open. Mahan should have no trouble doing if he's his usual self.

6. Jason Dufner

The last time Dufner was in action, he was very close to capturing his first major championship for the second time in three such events.

A shocking display at The Olympic Club resulted in Dufner hitting nearly 70 percent of greens in regulation for the week. The waggles were working at the U.S. Open.

Dufner ranks third on the PGA Tour in total ball striking and is fifth in proximity to the hole from 175-200 yards away.

Across the board, Dufner is among the best iron players in the game, and he doesn't make many mistakes.

The fact that Dufner is only 138th in total putting on Tour shows how good his mid-range game has been and is yet another case of a world-class player having everything but the flatstick clicking.

5. Rory McIlroy

The only statistics that back up the assertion that McIlroy belongs on this list is his game from 175-200 yards. He is third in greens in regulation from that distance and fourth in proximity to the hole.

The numbers are a bit deceiving because Rory has had quite the uneven year. When he does make it to the weekend, he is typically in it to win it.

However, he has also missed three cuts on the PGA Tour this season, resulting in some serious drops in numbers.

Even though golf hasn't been kind to the 23-year-old more recently, McIlroy is still ranked second in the world behind only Luke Donald.

While Donald is more known for his game from 100 yards and in and his putting, Rory has had difficulty for most of his young career on the greens.

That aspect of his game has improved immensely in 2012, but McIlroy's reputation is still defined by his stunning combination of power and precision with the irons.

4. Webb Simpson

The 2012 U.S. Open champion is making great use of the belly putter. He has also carried over his knack to find GIRs from 2011, resulting in another solid season to date.

From 150-175 yards, Simpson ranks fourth in proximity to the hole on Tour.

The shorter shots have actually given Simpson more grief this season than his mid-range game. He ranks just 119th in greens in regulation percentage from 75-100 yards.

Despite not hitting it long or particularly straight off the tee (142nd overall), Simpson finds a way to hit over 67 percent of greens in regulation overall. This is thanks to his exceptional mid-iron play.

3. Matt Kuchar

In all the ranges from 125-200 yards, Kuchar ranks in the top 20 in proximity to the hole in all of them.

This shows remarkable consistency with the irons and is a huge reason for his success in 2012.

Kuchar doesn't make very many mistakes and gives himself plenty of opportunities for birdies.

While he may not gain strokes on the field putting, the fact that he hits it so close beyond 100 yards away allows him some wiggle room even when the putter isn't working.

The form Kuchar sports right now is good enough for fifth in the FedEx Cup standings, second in PGA Tour scoring average and eighth in the world golf rankings.

As long as this stellar mid-range game continues, so should Kuchar's world-class standing in the game of golf.

2. Steve Stricker

Stricker was nearly successful in defending his title at the John Deere Classic, but fell just short on Sunday. Still, he rides a good wave of momentum entering the year's third major.

Other than distances from 75 yards and closer, Stricker finds the green more often than most.

There is a reason Stricker went 153 holes without a three-putt until yesterday besides the fact that he's a darn good putter.

Even from over 200 yards away—a 6-iron for many players today—Stricker ranks in the top 10, finding the green over 52 percent of the time. He also hits it the 12th-closest from 175-200 yards away.

His par-4 performance of 3.98 strokes average is third on Tour, and his mid-range play is a huge reason why.

The biggest problem for Stricker has been his performances on Par 5s, where he ranks just 96th in stroke average.

Two numbers sum up Stricker's case as a top mid-range player: second in GIR percentage from beyond 100 yards (67.51 percent) and first in proximity to the hole (31'10").

1. Tiger Woods

From 175-200 yards, Tiger ranks second in both greens in regulation percentage and proximity to the hole.

One of the best shot makers in the game's history, Tiger has all the shots in a mid-range game anyone could ask for and often attempts shots many would never dream of.

Tiger ranks third in total ball striking, and his biggest letdown has been with wedges in his hand.

In nearly every major category concerning the 50-100 yard range, Tiger consistently ranks in the 100s for 2012.

The perception is that Tiger's putting is the primary element keeping him from dominance, but the numbers tell a much different story.

As long as Tiger can maintain his stellar mid-range form, the shorter shots should come in time.

When they do, that could spell trouble for any opposing golfers, as it appears Tiger really is "close" to showing his ruthless claws once again.