Opinion & Analysis
The real top 10: PGA Tour Power Rankings

By Nick DeConti
GolfWRX Contributor
PGA Tour player performance is something that fans and media alike are always measuring and sharing their opinions about. When these matters are discussed between friends, enemies, co-workers, spouses, in-laws – there is always some disagreement. Some people like to measure the entire season’s performance when evaluating a golfer, and some employ the “What have you done for me lately?” school of thought. I always thought there was something to be said for both sides.
I wanted to find a way that I can measure a Tour player’s performance over the course of a season, but also keep in mind how hot (or cold) a player is to help me predict what they may (or may not) do in the future. The FedEx Cup standings do a good job of tracking a player’s season, but let’s look at it this way: if you only played in two PGA Tour tournaments and won them, you would have 1,000 FedEx Cup points (assuming one of them wasn’t a major). With those numbers at this time of the season, you could play in every other tournament, not make a cut, and be in 15th place in the FedEx cup standings. Win only one tournament and you’re still good for 61st! What I’m telling you is that you can’t judge a golfer by those standings alone.
So I invented a system that takes those FedEx Cup standings, put them through a series of number crunches and put together my own Power Ranking to give you a mix of how good these players actually are, meshing together their season performance and recent performance in an effort to quell the arguments between you and your loved (or not so loved) ones.
1. Jason Dufner
Dufner has been the talk of the TOUR this year, rightly so based on his performance. Although not active this week at The Travelers, he’s been in the top 5 his last two tournaments, and one of three players this season with 2 wins.
2. Webb Simpson
With a win at the U.S Open, we could be witnessing the growth of a superstar in Webb Simpson. Webb made 11 consecutive cuts earlier this season, letting us know that we should get used to seeing Webb on the Sunday leaderboard. Webb finished T29 at the Travelers.
3. Matt Kuchar
Coming off of a T8 at the Travelers Championship this week, Kuchar has not missed a cut all season, and also won The PLAYERS Championship in May. Kuchar has been playing great golf all season and is currently in very good form.
4. Jim Furyk
With Furyk’s worst finish being T13 over his past month of play, there’s no doubt he would be close to the top of this list. Furyk has played phenomenal golf as of late, highlighted by his T4 finish at the U.S. Open.
5. Rickie Fowler
After winning his first career tournament at the Wells Fargo in May, Rickie followed that performance up with back-to-back top-5 finishes in his next two tournaments. It has really been a coming out season for Rickie, and it seems he’s developed into the player people thought he would be coming out of college.
6. Hunter Mahan
Hunter put together another solid week finishing T11 at the Travelers this week, adding another good finish to a consistent season this year in which he has one two tournaments, one of them the WGC Accenture Match Play event where he took down Rory McIlroy in the final match.
7. Tiger Woods
Leaving all the “Is Tiger ‘back’ yet?” talk aside, there’s no way Tiger wouldn’t make this list by also winning two tournaments this year, one of them being earlier this month. His T21 finish at the U.S. Open is less than what we expected based on his earlier performance in the tournament, but if we’re expecting him to win majors this year, he’s a player to be reckoned with.
8. Marc Leishman
Leishman found his way into the top 10 this week by getting his first career win at the Travelers. Leishman has been having a good season this year, and also finished T3 at the HP Byron Nelson. He has certainly been flying under the radar, but we should be paying attention to him.
9. Phil Mickelson
Any time we see Phil’s name entered into a tournament, we expect a good finish. His performance at the U.S. Open was less than stellar, but with a win this season at Pebble Beach, we know that we can never count Phil out, and he’s always a threat to win.
10. Ernie Els
A 9th place finish at the U.S. Open and a slew of top-10 finishes this year, the Big Easy continues to be a threat on TOUR. Although he hasn’t broken through this year with a win, his form has been so good lately that we should be expecting one from him soon.
See the chart below for the full rankings, and click here for more discussion in the forums.
1 | Jason Dufner | 15 | 1,849 | 2 | 6 | 2054.444444 | |
2 | Webb Simpson | 15 | 1,298 | 1 | 5 | 551 | 1261.944444 |
3 | Matt Kuchar | 14 | 1,423 | 1 | 6 | 426 | 922.3148148 |
4 | Jim Furyk | 13 | 931 | 0 | 4 | 918 | 896.5185185 |
5 | Rickie Fowler | 16 | 1,197 | 1 | 5 | 652 | 886.6666667 |
6 | Hunter Mahan | 14 | 1,572 | 2 | 3 | 277 | 815.1111111 |
7 | Tiger Woods | 10 | 1,452 | 2 | 3 | 397 | 806.6666667 |
8 | Marc Leishman | 15 | 897 | 1 | 2 | 952 | 747.5 |
9 | Phil Mickelson | 14 | 1,313 | 1 | 5 | 536 | 680.8148148 |
10 | Ernie Els | 13 | 802 | 0 | 4 | 1,047 | 675.7592593 |
11 | Justin Rose | 12 | 1,169 | 1 | 5 | 680 | 649.4444444 |
12 | Zach Johnson | 16 | 1,420 | 1 | 4 | 429 | 631.1111111 |
13 | John Huh | 17 | 982 | 1 | 4 | 867 | 618.2962963 |
14 | Michael Thompson | 17 | 628 | 0 | 2 | 1,221 | 593.1111111 |
15 | Johnson Wagner | 18 | 1,142 | 1 | 4 | 707 | 571 |
16 | John Rollins | 17 | 719 | 0 | 5 | 1,130 | 565.8796296 |
17 | Bubba Watson | 12 | 1,617 | 1 | 5 | 232 | 539 |
18 | John Senden | 14 | 604 | 0 | 4 | 1,245 | 469.7777778 |
19 | Graeme McDowell | 10 | 812 | 0 | 3 | 1,037 | 451.1111111 |
20 | Mark Wilson | 17 | 940 | 1 | 2 | 909 | 443.8888889 |
21 | Ben Crane | 16 | 747 | 0 | 4 | 1,102 | 442.6666667 |
22 | Ken Duke | 19 | 622 | 0 | 5 | 1,227 | 437.7037037 |
23 | Keegan Bradley | 17 | 915 | 0 | 3 | 934 | 432.0833333 |
24 | Charlie Wi | 16 | 709 | 0 | 2 | 1,140 | 420.1481481 |
25 | Brendon de Jonge | 19 | 596 | 0 | 2 | 1,253 | 419.4074074 |
26 | Dustin Johnson | 10 | 898 | 1 | 4 | 951 | 415.7407407 |
27 | Brian Davis | 17 | 655 | 0 | 4 | 1,194 | 412.4074074 |
28 | David Toms | 14 | 524 | 0 | 3 | 1,325 | 407.5555556 |
29 | Brandt Snedeker | 12 | 888 | 1 | 3 | 961 | 394.6666667 |
30 | D.A. Points | 16 | 662 | 0 | 3 | 1,187 | 392.2962963 |
31 | Charles Howell III | 17 | 621 | 0 | 1 | 1,228 | 391 |
32 | Cameron Tringale | 17 | 603 | 0 | 4 | 1,246 | 379.6666667 |
33 | Carl Pettersson | 16 | 1,258 | 1 | 4 | 591 | 372.7407407 |
34 | Bo Van Pelt | 15 | 664 | 0 | 5 | 1,185 | 368.8888889 |
35 | Kevin Na | 17 | 779 | 0 | 5 | 1,070 | 367.8611111 |
36 | Charley Hoffman | 17 | 579 | 0 | 2 | 1,270 | 364.5555556 |
37 | George McNeill | 17 | 573 | 1 | 1 | 1,276 | 360.7777778 |
38 | Padraig Harrington | 12 | 538 | 0 | 3 | 1,311 | 358.6666667 |
39 | Seung-Yul Noh | 19 | 507 | 0 | 2 | 1,342 | 356.7777778 |
40 | Ryan Palmer | 15 | 641 | 0 | 4 | 1,208 | 356.1111111 |
41 | Matt Every | 15 | 641 | 0 | 5 | 1,208 | 356.1111111 |
42 | Martin Laird | 15 | 847 | 0 | 3 | 1,002 | 352.9166667 |
43 | Rory Sabbatini | 17 | 545 | 0 | 2 | 1,304 | 343.1481481 |
44 | Rory McIlroy | 9 | 1,372 | 1 | 5 | 477 | 343 |
45 | Jonathan Byrd | 14 | 655 | 0 | 5 | 1,194 | 339.6296296 |
46 | Steve Stricker | 10 | 911 | 1 | 4 | 938 | 337.4074074 |
47 | Kevin Chappell | 18 | 333 | 0 | 1 | 1,516 | 333 |
48 | Kevin Stadler | 16 | 561 | 0 | 3 | 1,288 | 332.4444444 |
49 | Kyle Stanley | 18 | 992 | 1 | 2 | 857 | 330.6666667 |
50 | Sang-Moon Bae | 17 | 510 | 0 | 2 | 1,339 | 321.1111111 |
51 | Aaron Baddeley | 16 | 535 | 0 | 2 | 1,314 | 317.037037 |
52 | Robert Garrigus | 16 | 709 | 0 | 3 | 1,140 | 315.1111111 |
53 | Jeff Overton | 17 | 495 | 0 | 2 | 1,354 | 311.6666667 |
54 | Bud Cauley | 17 | 492 | 0 | 2 | 1,357 | 309.7777778 |
55 | Lee Westwood | 8 | 690 | 0 | 5 | 1,159 | 306.6666667 |
56 | Louis Oosthuizen | 12 | 690 | 0 | 2 | 1,159 | 306.6666667 |
57 | Scott Piercy | 17 | 485 | 0 | 1 | 1,364 | 305.3703704 |
58 | Jimmy Walker | 17 | 483 | 0 | 3 | 1,366 | 304.1111111 |
59 | Luke Donald | 10 | 1,070 | 1 | 4 | 779 | 297.2222222 |
60 | Greg Chalmers | 17 | 464 | 0 | 1,385 | 292.1481481 | |
61 | Ryan Moore | 15 | 518 | 0 | 3 | 1,331 | 287.7777778 |
62 | Harris English | 17 | 455 | 0 | 2 | 1,394 | 286.4814815 |
63 | John Merrick | 17 | 454 | 0 | 1 | 1,395 | 285.8518519 |
64 | Blake Adams | 20 | 383 | 0 | 1 | 1,466 | 283.7037037 |
65 | Greg Owen | 16 | 477 | 0 | 2 | 1,372 | 282.6666667 |
66 | Chris Stroud | 16 | 469 | 0 | 2 | 1,380 | 277.9259259 |
67 | Sean O’Hair | 14 | 518 | 0 | 1 | 1,331 | 268.5925926 |
68 | Pat Perez | 15 | 473 | 0 | 1 | 1,376 | 262.7777778 |
69 | Tommy Gainey | 20 | 350 | 0 | 1 | 1,499 | 259.2592593 |
70 | Bryce Molder | 15 | 466 | 0 | 1 | 1,383 | 258.8888889 |
71 | Nick Watney | 15 | 463 | 0 | 2 | 1,386 | 257.2222222 |
72 | Martin Flores | 19 | 365 | 0 | 1 | 1,484 | 256.8518519 |
73 | Bill Haas | 15 | 922 | 1 | 2 | 927 | 256.1111111 |
74 | Vijay Singh | 16 | 429 | 0 | 1 | 1,420 | 254.2222222 |
75 | James Driscoll | 17 | 400 | 0 | 2 | 1,449 | 251.8518519 |
76 | Colt Knost | 18 | 370 | 0 | 2 | 1,479 | 246.6666667 |
77 | Robert Allenby | 16 | 415 | 0 | 2 | 1,434 | 245.9259259 |
78 | Spencer Levin | 19 | 695 | 0 | 3 | 1,154 | 244.537037 |
79 | J.B. Holmes | 15 | 440 | 0 | 2 | 1,409 | 244.4444444 |
80 | John Mallinger | 16 | 410 | 0 | 1 | 1,439 | 242.962963 |
81 | Tom Gillis | 15 | 432 | 0 | 1 | 1,417 | 240 |
82 | Ricky Barnes | 17 | 376 | 0 | 1 | 1,473 | 236.7407407 |
83 | Jonas Blixt | 14 | 455 | 0 | 3 | 1,394 | 235.9259259 |
84 | Brian Harman | 19 | 332 | 0 | 1,517 | 233.6296296 | |
85 | Chad Campbell | 17 | 370 | 0 | 1 | 1,479 | 232.962963 |
86 | Geoff Ogilvy | 14 | 445 | 0 | 1,404 | 230.7407407 | |
87 | J.J. Henry | 19 | 325 | 0 | 2 | 1,524 | 228.7037037 |
88 | Jeff Maggert | 17 | 363 | 0 | 1 | 1,486 | 228.5555556 |
89 | David Mathis | 20 | 307 | 0 | 1 | 1,542 | 227.4074074 |
90 | David Hearn | 17 | 350 | 0 | 1 | 1,499 | 220.3703704 |
91 | Brian Gay | 16 | 357 | 0 | 2 | 1,492 | 211.5555556 |
92 | Billy Mayfair | 17 | 335 | 0 | 1 | 1,514 | 210.9259259 |
93 | Daniel Summerhays | 15 | 379 | 0 | 3 | 1,470 | 210.5555556 |
94 | Bob Estes | 14 | 402 | 0 | 1 | 1,447 | 208.4444444 |
95 | Tim Herron | 19 | 296 | 0 | 1,553 | 208.2962963 | |
96 | K.J. Choi | 13 | 423 | 0 | 1 | 1,426 | 203.6666667 |
97 | Will Claxton | 17 | 323 | 0 | 1 | 1,526 | 203.3703704 |
98 | Harrison Frazar | 14 | 386 | 0 | 2 | 1,463 | 200.1481481 |
99 | Kris Blanks | 20 | 268 | 0 | 1,581 | 198.5185185 | |
100 | Ben Curtis | 8 | 886 | 1 | 3 | 963 | 196.8888889 |
101 | Andres Romero | 14 | 377 | 0 | 1 | 1,472 | 195.4814815 |
102 | Fredrik Jacobson | 12 | 434 | 0 | 1 | 1,415 | 192.8888889 |
103 | Kevin Streelman | 17 | 306 | 0 | 2 | 1,543 | 192.6666667 |
104 | William McGirt | 18 | 289 | 0 | 1,560 | 192.6666667 | |
105 | Roberto Castro | 15 | 330 | 0 | 1,519 | 183.3333333 | |
106 | J.J. Killeen | 22 | 222 | 0 | 1,627 | 180.8888889 | |
107 | Graham DeLaet | 16 | 305 | 0 | 2 | 1,544 | 180.7407407 |
108 | Boo Weekley | 14 | 335 | 0 | 2 | 1,514 | 173.7037037 |
109 | Brendan Steele | 16 | 288 | 0 | 2 | 1,561 | 170.6666667 |
110 | Kyle Reifers | 17 | 268 | 0 | 1,581 | 168.7407407 | |
111 | Dicky Pride | 9 | 503 | 0 | 3 | 1,346 | 167.6666667 |
112 | Vaughn Taylor | 16 | 280 | 0 | 1,569 | 165.9259259 | |
113 | Chris Kirk | 14 | 318 | 0 | 2 | 1,531 | 164.8888889 |
114 | Josh Teater | 18 | 245 | 0 | 1,604 | 163.3333333 | |
115 | Henrik Stenson | 11 | 394 | 0 | 1 | 1,455 | 160.5185185 |
116 | Trevor Immelman | 14 | 309 | 0 | 1,540 | 160.2222222 | |
117 | Chris DiMarco | 19 | 223 | 0 | 1,626 | 156.9259259 | |
118 | Rod Pampling | 16 | 261 | 0 | 1 | 1,588 | 154.6666667 |
119 | Heath Slocum | 17 | 236 | 0 | 1,613 | 148.5925926 | |
120 | Ian Poulter | 9 | 443 | 0 | 2 | 1,406 | 147.6666667 |
121 | Bobby Gates | 18 | 220 | 0 | 1 | 1,629 | 146.6666667 |
122 | Jerry Kelly | 16 | 242 | 0 | 1,607 | 143.4074074 | |
123 | Gary Christian | 17 | 225 | 0 | 1,624 | 141.6666667 | |
124 | Camilo Villegas | 15 | 251 | 0 | 1,598 | 139.4444444 | |
125 | Erik Compton | 15 | 248 | 0 | 1,601 | 137.7777778 | |
126 | Chez Reavie | 17 | 218 | 0 | 1,631 | 137.2592593 | |
127 | Gary Woodland | 14 | 258 | 0 | 1,591 | 133.7777778 | |
128 | Brandt Jobe | 17 | 211 | 0 | 1 | 1,638 | 132.8518519 |
129 | Jhonattan Vegas | 17 | 211 | 0 | 1 | 1,638 | 132.8518519 |
130 | Sergio Garcia | 9 | 396 | 0 | 1 | 1,453 | 132 |
131 | Nick O’Hern | 16 | 221 | 0 | 1 | 1,628 | 130.962963 |
132 | Hunter Haas | 19 | 186 | 0 | 1 | 1,663 | 130.8888889 |
133 | Brendon Todd | 18 | 196 | 0 | 1 | 1,653 | 130.6666667 |
134 | Stewart Cink | 14 | 248 | 0 | 1,601 | 128.5925926 | |
135 | Bill Lunde | 16 | 204 | 0 | 1,645 | 120.8888889 | |
136 | Davis Love III | 10 | 323 | 0 | 1 | 1,526 | 119.6296296 |
137 | Jason Bohn | 17 | 187 | 0 | 1 | 1,662 | 117.7407407 |
138 | Y.E. Yang | 14 | 225 | 0 | 1,624 | 116.6666667 | |
139 | Charl Schwartzel | 8 | 380 | 0 | 2 | 1,469 | 112.5925926 |
140 | Jason Day | 10 | 295 | 0 | 2 | 1,554 | 109.2592593 |
141 | D.J. Trahan | 16 | 184 | 0 | 1 | 1,665 | 109.037037 |
142 | Justin Leonard | 17 | 173 | 0 | 1 | 1,676 | 108.9259259 |
143 | Sung Kang | 20 | 146 | 0 | 1,703 | 108.1481481 | |
144 | Mark Anderson | 14 | 205 | 0 | 1,644 | 106.2962963 | |
145 | Adam Scott | 8 | 356 | 0 | 1 | 1,493 | 105.4814815 |
146 | Tim Clark | 11 | 256 | 0 | 1 | 1,593 | 104.2962963 |
147 | Troy Matteson | 19 | 147 | 0 | 1,702 | 103.4444444 | |
148 | Matt Bettencourt | 20 | 139 | 0 | 1 | 1,710 | 102.962963 |
149 | Danny Lee | 15 | 181 | 0 | 1,668 | 100.5555556 | |
150 | Miguel Angel Carballo | 15 | 179 | 0 | 1,670 | 99.44444444 | |
151 | Robert Karlsson | 11 | 239 | 0 | 1,610 | 97.37037037 | |
152 | Scott Stallings | 16 | 152 | 0 | 1,697 | 90.07407407 | |
153 | Jason Kokrak | 17 | 143 | 0 | 1 | 1,706 | 90.03703704 |
154 | Retief Goosen | 8 | 200 | 0 | 1 | 1,649 | 88.88888889 |
155 | Chris Couch | 15 | 157 | 0 | 1,692 | 87.22222222 | |
156 | Derek Lamely | 16 | 145 | 0 | 1,704 | 85.92592593 | |
157 | Stuart Appleby | 14 | 156 | 0 | 1,693 | 80.88888889 | |
158 | Nathan Green | 12 | 177 | 0 | 1,672 | 78.66666667 | |
159 | Michael Bradley | 15 | 141 | 0 | 1,708 | 78.33333333 | |
160 | Kevin Kisner | 14 | 149 | 0 | 1,700 | 77.25925926 | |
161 | Arjun Atwal | 16 | 130 | 0 | 1,719 | 77.03703704 | |
162 | Stephen Ames | 14 | 142 | 0 | 1,707 | 73.62962963 | |
163 | Rocco Mediate | 14 | 136 | 0 | 1,713 | 70.51851852 | |
164 | Cameron Beckman | 16 | 116 | 0 | 1,733 | 68.74074074 | |
165 | Ted Potter, Jr. | 15 | 119 | 0 | 1,730 | 66.11111111 | |
166 | Richard H. Lee | 14 | 127 | 0 | 1,722 | 65.85185185 | |
167 | Roland Thatcher | 11 | 156 | 0 | 1 | 1,693 | 63.55555556 |
168 | Angel Cabrera | 13 | 131 | 0 | 1,718 | 63.07407407 | |
169 | Joe Ogilvie | 17 | 98 | 0 | 1,751 | 61.7037037 | |
170 | Matt Jones | 10 | 143 | 0 | 1 | 1,706 | 52.96296296 |
171 | Joe Durant | 8 | 178 | 0 | 1 | 1,671 | 52.74074074 |
172 | Jarrod Lyle | 7 | 199 | 0 | 1 | 1,650 | 51.59259259 |
173 | Billy Hurley III | 17 | 72 | 0 | 1,777 | 45.33333333 | |
174 | Briny Baird | 13 | 92 | 0 | 1,757 | 44.2962963 | |
175 | Mathew Goggin | 13 | 87 | 0 | 1,762 | 41.88888889 | |
176 | Russell Knox | 13 | 84 | 0 | 1,765 | 40.44444444 | |
177 | Troy Kelly | 14 | 76 | 0 | 1,773 | 39.40740741 | |
178 | Gavin Coles | 13 | 81 | 0 | 1,768 | 39 | |
179 | Garth Mulroy | 11 | 95 | 0 | 1,754 | 38.7037037 | |
180 | Jamie Lovemark | 14 | 73 | 0 | 1,776 | 37.85185185 | |
181 | Scott Brown | 14 | 72 | 0 | 1 | 1,777 | 37.33333333 |
182 | Lee Janzen | 8 | 125 | 0 | 1,724 | 37.03703704 | |
183 | Tommy Biershenk | 17 | 57 | 0 | 1,792 | 35.88888889 | |
184 | Tom Pernice Jr. | 14 | 63 | 0 | 1,786 | 32.66666667 | |
185 | Duffy Waldorf | 7 | 123 | 0 | 1,726 | 31.88888889 | |
186 | Patrick Sheehan | 11 | 73 | 0 | 1,776 | 29.74074074 | |
187 | Shaun Micheel | 8 | 100 | 0 | 1,749 | 29.62962963 | |
188 | Alex Cejka | 6 | 118 | 0 | 1,731 | 26.22222222 | |
189 | Daniel Chopra | 11 | 64 | 0 | 1,785 | 26.07407407 | |
190 | Chris Riley | 7 | 96 | 0 | 1,753 | 24.88888889 | |
191 | Charlie Beljan | 12 | 49 | 0 | 1,800 | 21.77777778 | |
192 | John Daly | 5 | 114 | 0 | 1,735 | 21.11111111 | |
193 | Billy Horschel | 8 | 71 | 0 | 1,778 | 21.03703704 | |
194 | Rich Beem | 7 | 81 | 0 | 1,768 | 21 | |
195 | Lucas Glover | 11 | 47 | 0 | 1,802 | 19.14814815 | |
196 | Steven Bowditch | 9 | 57 | 0 | 1,792 | 19 | |
197 | Ryuji Imada | 17 | 30 | 0 | 1,819 | 18.88888889 | |
198 | Fred Couples | 4 | 108 | 0 | 1,741 | 16 | |
199 | Marc Turnesa | 6 | 64 | 0 | 1,785 | 14.22222222 | |
200 | Paul Goydos | 6 | 64 | 0 | 1,785 | 14.22222222 | |
201 | Marco Dawson | 12 | 28 | 0 | 1,821 | 12.44444444 | |
202 | Garrett Willis | 7 | 47 | 0 | 1,802 | 12.18518519 | |
203 | Edward Loar | 13 | 25 | 0 | 1,824 | 12.03703704 | |
204 | Steve Marino | 6 | 54 | 0 | 1,795 | 12 | |
205 | Tim Petrovic | 9 | 36 | 0 | 1,813 | 12 | |
206 | Anthony Kim | 10 | 32 | 0 | 1,817 | 11.85185185 | |
207 | Todd Hamilton | 4 | 70 | 0 | 1,779 | 10.37037037 | |
208 | Frank Lickliter II | 5 | 56 | 0 | 1,793 | 10.37037037 | |
209 | Shane Bertsch | 8 | 33 | 0 | 1,816 | 9.777777778 | |
210 | Steve Wheatcroft | 12 | 22 | 0 | 1,827 | 9.777777778 | |
211 | Woody Austin | 5 | 50 | 0 | 1,799 | 9.259259259 | |
212 | Kenny Perry | 4 | 62 | 0 | 1,787 | 9.185185185 | |
213 | Will MacKenzie | 4 | 55 | 0 | 1,794 | 8.148148148 | |
214 | Skip Kendall | 4 | 53 | 0 | 1,796 | 7.851851852 | |
215 | Kent Jones | 4 | 50 | 0 | 1,799 | 7.407407407 | |
216 | Richard S. Johnson | 4 | 47 | 0 | 1,802 | 6.962962963 | |
217 | Fred Funk | 4 | 47 | 0 | 1,802 | 6.962962963 | |
218 | Paul Stankowski | 5 | 35 | 0 | 1,814 | 6.481481481 | |
219 | Michael Allen | 3 | 52 | 0 | 1 | 1,797 | 5.777777778 |
220 | David Duval | 12 | 13 | 0 | 1,836 | 5.777777778 | |
221 | Robert Damron | 5 | 30 | 0 | 1,819 | 5.555555556 | |
222 | Corey Pavin | 2 | 67 | 0 | 1,782 | 4.962962963 | |
223 | Scott Verplank | 7 | 17 | 0 | 1,832 | 4.407407407 | |
224 | Paul Casey | 5 | 19 | 0 | 1,830 | 3.518518519 | |
225 | Hank Kuehne | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1,839 | 2.962962963 | |
226 | Craig Barlow | 4 | 18 | 0 | 1,831 | 2.666666667 | |
227 | Brett Wetterich | 6 | 11 | 0 | 1,838 | 2.444444444 | |
228 | Alexandre Rocha | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1,845 | 1.62962963 | |
229 | Robert Gamez | 6 | 7 | 0 | 1,842 | 1.555555556 | |
230 | Stephen Gangluff | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1,846 | 1.444444444 | |
231 | Brett Quigley | 1 | 37 | 0 | 1,812 | 1.37037037 | |
232 | Bart Bryant | 2 | 18 | 0 | 1,831 | 1.333333333 | |
233 | Zack Miller | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1,844 | 1.111111111 | |
234 | Tom Lehman | 1 | 25 | 0 | 1,824 | 0.925925926 | |
235 | Scott Dunlap | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1,847 | 0.740740741 | |
236 | Jose Maria Olazabal | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1,845 | 0.592592593 | |
237 | Neal Lancaster | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1,847 | 0.37037037 | |
238 | Kevin Sutherland | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1,847 | 0.296296296 | |
239 | Matt McQuillan | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1,848 | 0.259259259 | |
240 | Peter Lonard | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1,847 | 0.222222222 | |
241 | Omar Uresti | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1,847 | 0.222222222 | |
242 | Jesper Parnevik | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1,848 | 0.111111111 | |
243 | Ted Purdy | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1,848 | 0.074074074 | |
244 | Kirk Triplett | 3 | 0 | 1,849 | 0 | ||
As of June 25, 2012 |
Opinion & Analysis
The 2 primary challenges golf equipment companies face

As the editor-in-chief of this website and an observer of the GolfWRX forums and other online golf equipment discourse for over a decade, I’m pretty well attuned to the grunts and grumbles of a significant portion of the golf equipment purchasing spectrum. And before you accuse me of lording above all in some digital ivory tower, I’d like to offer that I worked at golf courses (public and private) for years prior to picking up my pen, so I’m well-versed in the non-degenerate golf equipment consumers out there. I touched (green)grass (retail)!
Complaints about the ills of and related to the OEMs usually follow some version of: Product cycles are too short for real innovation, tour equipment isn’t the same as retail (which is largely not true, by the way), too much is invested in marketing and not enough in R&D, top staffer X hasn’t even put the new driver in play, so it’s obviously not superior to the previous generation, prices are too high, and on and on.
Without digging into the merits of any of these claims, which I believe are mostly red herrings, I’d like to bring into view of our rangefinder what I believe to be the two primary difficulties golf equipment companies face.
One: As Terry Koehler, back when he was the CEO of Ben Hogan, told me at the time of the Ft Worth irons launch, if you can’t regularly hit the golf ball in a coin-sized area in the middle of the face, there’s not a ton that iron technology can do for you. Now, this is less true now with respect to irons than when he said it, and is less and less true by degrees as the clubs get larger (utilities, fairways, hybrids, drivers), but there remains a great deal of golf equipment truth in that statement. Think about it — which is to say, in TL;DR fashion, get lessons from a qualified instructor who will teach you about the fundamentals of repeatable impact and how the golf swing works, not just offer band-aid fixes. If you can’t repeatably deliver the golf club to the golf ball in something resembling the manner it was designed for, how can you expect to be getting the most out of the club — put another way, the maximum value from your investment?
Similarly, game improvement equipment can only improve your game if you game it. In other words, get fit for the clubs you ought to be playing rather than filling the bag with the ones you wish you could hit or used to be able to hit. Of course, don’t do this if you don’t care about performance and just want to hit a forged blade while playing off an 18 handicap. That’s absolutely fine. There were plenty of members in clubs back in the day playing Hogan Apex or Mizuno MP-32 irons who had no business doing so from a ballstriking standpoint, but they enjoyed their look, feel, and complementary qualities to their Gatsby hats and cashmere sweaters. Do what brings you a measure of joy in this maddening game.
Now, the second issue. This is not a plea for non-conforming equipment; rather, it is a statement of fact. USGA/R&A limits on every facet of golf equipment are detrimental to golf equipment manufacturers. Sure, you know this, but do you think about it as it applies to almost every element of equipment? A 500cc driver would be inherently more forgiving than a 460cc, as one with a COR measurement in excess of 0.83. 50-inch shafts. Box grooves. And on and on.
Would fewer regulations be objectively bad for the game? Would this erode its soul? Fortunately, that’s beside the point of this exercise, which is merely to point out the facts. The fact, in this case, is that equipment restrictions and regulations are the slaughterbench of an abundance of innovation in the golf equipment space. Is this for the best? Well, now I’ve asked the question twice and might as well give a partial response, I guess my answer to that would be, “It depends on what type of golf you’re playing and who you’re playing it with.”
For my part, I don’t mind embarrassing myself with vintage blades and persimmons chasing after the quasi-spiritual elevation of a well-struck shot, but that’s just me. Plenty of folks don’t give a damn if their grooves are conforming. Plenty of folks think the folks in Liberty Corner ought to add a prison to the museum for such offences. And those are just a few of the considerations for the amateur game — which doesn’t get inside the gallery ropes of the pro game…
Different strokes in the game of golf, in my humble opinion.
Anyway, I believe equipment company engineers are genuinely trying to build better equipment year over year. The marketing departments are trying to find ways to make this equipment appeal to the broadest segment of the golf market possible. All of this against (1) the backdrop of — at least for now — firm product cycles. And golfers who, with their ~15 average handicap (men), for the most part, are not striping the golf ball like Tiger in his prime and seem to have less and less time year over year to practice and improve. (2) Regulations that massively restrict what they’re able to do…
That’s the landscape as I see it and the real headwinds for golf equipment companies. No doubt, there’s more I haven’t considered, but I think the previous is a better — and better faith — point of departure when formulating any serious commentary on the golf equipment world than some of the more cynical and conspiratorial takes I hear.
Agree? Disagree? Think I’m worthy of an Adam Hadwin-esque security guard tackle? Let me know in the comments.
@golfoncbs The infamous Adam Hadwin tackle ? #golf #fyp #canada #pgatour #adamhadwin ? Ghibli-style nostalgic waltz – MaSssuguMusic
Podcasts
Fore Love of Golf: Introducing a new club concept

Episode #16 brings us Cliff McKinney. Cliff is the founder of Old Charlie Golf Club, a new club, and concept, to be built in the Florida panhandle. The model is quite interesting and aims to make great, private golf more affordable. We hope you enjoy the show!
Opinion & Analysis
On Scottie Scheffler wondering ‘What’s the point of winning?’

Last week, I came across a reel from BBC Sport on Instagram featuring Scottie Scheffler speaking to the media ahead of The Open at Royal Portrush. In it, he shared that he often wonders what the point is of wanting to win tournaments so badly — especially when he knows, deep down, that it doesn’t lead to a truly fulfilling life.
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“Is it great to be able to win tournaments and to accomplish the things I have in the game of golf? Yeah, it brings tears to my eyes just to think about it because I’ve literally worked my entire life to be good at this sport,” Scheffler said. “To have that kind of sense of accomplishment, I think, is a pretty cool feeling. To get to live out your dreams is very special, but at the end of the day, I’m not out here to inspire the next generation of golfers. I’m not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world, because what’s the point?”
Ironically — or perhaps perfectly — he went on to win the claret jug.
That question — what’s the point of winning? — cuts straight to the heart of the human journey.
As someone who’s spent over two decades in the trenches of professional golf, and in deep study of the mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the game, I see Scottie’s inner conflict as a sign of soul evolution in motion.
I came to golf late. I wasn’t a junior standout or college All-American. At 27, I left a steady corporate job to see if I could be on the PGA Tour starting as a 14-handicap, average-length hitter. Over the years, my journey has been defined less by trophies and more by the relentless effort to navigate the deeply inequitable and gated system of professional golf — an effort that ultimately turned inward and helped me evolve as both a golfer and a person.
One perspective that helped me make sense of this inner dissonance around competition and our culture’s tendency to overvalue winning is the idea of soul evolution.
The University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies has done extensive research on reincarnation, and Netflix’s Surviving Death (Episode 6) explores the topic, too. Whether you take it literally or metaphorically, the idea that we’re on a long arc of growth — from beginner to sage elder — offers a profound perspective.
If you accept the premise literally, then terms like “young soul” and “old soul” start to hold meaning. However, even if we set the word “soul” aside, it’s easy to see that different levels of life experience produce different worldviews.
Newer souls — or people in earlier stages of their development — may be curious and kind but still lack discernment or depth. There is a naivety, and they don’t yet question as deeply, tending to see things in black and white, partly because certainty feels safer than confronting the unknown.
As we gain more experience, we begin to experiment. We test limits. We chase extreme external goals — sometimes at the expense of health, relationships, or inner peace — still operating from hunger, ambition, and the fragility of the ego.
It’s a necessary stage, but often a turbulent and unfulfilling one.
David Duval fell off the map after reaching World No. 1. Bubba Watson had his own “Is this it?” moment with his caddie, Ted Scott, after winning the Masters.
In Aaron Rodgers: Enigma, reflecting on his 2011 Super Bowl win, Rodgers said:
“Now I’ve accomplished the only thing that I really, really wanted to do in my life. Now what? I was like, ‘Did I aim at the wrong thing? Did I spend too much time thinking about stuff that ultimately doesn’t give you true happiness?’”
Jim Carrey once said, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”
Eventually, though, something shifts.
We begin to see in shades of gray. Winning, dominating, accumulating—these pursuits lose their shine. The rewards feel more fleeting. Living in a constant state of fight-or-flight makes us feel alive, yes, but not happy and joyful.
Compassion begins to replace ambition. Love, presence, and gratitude become more fulfilling than status, profits, or trophies. We crave balance over burnout. Collaboration over competition. Meaning over metrics.
Interestingly, if we zoom out, we can apply this same model to nations and cultures. Countries, like people, have a collective “soul stage” made up of the individuals within them.
Take the United States, for example. I’d place it as a mid-level soul: highly competitive and deeply driven, but still learning emotional maturity. Still uncomfortable with nuance. Still believing that more is always better. Despite its global wins, the U.S. currently ranks just 23rd in happiness (as of 2025). You might liken it to a gifted teenager—bold, eager, and ambitious, but angsty and still figuring out how to live well and in balance. As much as a parent wants to protect their child, sometimes the child has to make their own mistakes to truly grow.
So when Scottie Scheffler wonders what the point of winning is, I don’t see someone losing strength.
I see someone evolving.
He’s beginning to look beyond the leaderboard. Beyond metrics of success that carry a lower vibration. And yet, in a poetic twist, Scheffler did go on to win The Open. But that only reinforces the point: even at the pinnacle, the question remains. And if more of us in the golf and sports world — and in U.S. culture at large — started asking similar questions, we might discover that the more meaningful trophy isn’t about accumulating or beating others at all costs.
It’s about awakening and evolving to something more than winning could ever promise.