It should not have been a surprise that the PGA Tour had another first time winner at the Valero Texas Open. Why? The vast majority of the field qualified for this dubious honor. Only three of the Top-20 in the FedX race were in the field and the final threesome on Sunday was comprised of total unknowns. These three came into the event with a combined 240 FedX points, placing them barely in the Top-150. So it was not just the colorless, arid terrain that was starkly different from last week's Masters; but then, that is what makes the Masters and the Majors so special.
Ignoring for a moment the lackluster field, the final nine holes were interesting and had some drama. I was pleased for Brendan Steele when he rolled in the 7 foot putt to achieve his first Tour win. His YTD performance from 7 feet is 64%, slightly better than the Tour average of 61%. Factor in the weight of the circumstances, and that he three-putted from 6 feet in Friday's round, and that final putt showed some character.
My Winner's 70% Rule?
Briefly, I have found that to win on the PGA Tour a player needs three key stats to average 70%: GIR's, Scrambling and Putts holed in the 5-10 foot range. For more see: Last Time on the 70% Rule... In reviewing Brendan's ShotByShot.com analysis, he barely crept over the 70% Rule bar - actually hit it on the mark. With GIR's at only 58%, his Scrambling (73%) and Putting in the 5-10 foot range (79%) pulled him up to the 70% mark. While he passed the 70% test, Brendan failed the important Errors component of my Rule by one. The 70% Rule calls for three or fewer Errors in a four-round event, and Brendan committed FOUR:
Long Game Error
1. Drive result Penalty
2. Drive result No Shot, bogey
Short Game Errors
3. Chip/Pitch missed green, failed to get down in total of 3 shots.
Putting Error
4. 3-Putt from 40 feet and closer (6 feet).
Was it the caliber of the field or the severe wind conditions on a demanding course that allowed the winner to overcome the Error component of my 70% Rule? Most likely both.
My Winner's 70% Rule?
Briefly, I have found that to win on the PGA Tour a player needs three key stats to average 70%: GIR's, Scrambling and Putts holed in the 5-10 foot range. For more see: Last Time on the 70% Rule... In reviewing Brendan's ShotByShot.com analysis, he barely crept over the 70% Rule bar - actually hit it on the mark. With GIR's at only 58%, his Scrambling (73%) and Putting in the 5-10 foot range (79%) pulled him up to the 70% mark. While he passed the 70% test, Brendan failed the important Errors component of my Rule by one. The 70% Rule calls for three or fewer Errors in a four-round event, and Brendan committed FOUR:
Long Game Error
1. Drive result Penalty
2. Drive result No Shot, bogey
Short Game Errors
3. Chip/Pitch missed green, failed to get down in total of 3 shots.
Putting Error
4. 3-Putt from 40 feet and closer (6 feet).
Was it the caliber of the field or the severe wind conditions on a demanding course that allowed the winner to overcome the Error component of my 70% Rule? Most likely both.
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