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Jordan Spieth’s Masters collapse was the genesis of an incredible win probability calculator

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Jordan Spieth’s unfortunate display at the 12th hole at Augusta National last year has led to at least one happy development: a top-notch win probability calculator.

Dan Rosenheck, data editor at The Economist, was inspired to develop Economist Advantage in Golf Likelihood Estimator (EAGLE) after seeing Spieth’s collapse and asking the question: “Was this the worst collapse in major golf history?”

An interesting sidebar: It wasn’t. And while you ponder the worst collapse in recent major golf history, some more details on the EAGLE.

According to Golfweek’s David Dusek, the tool is built from a “dataset of more than 457,753 holes played by golfers in the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship and almost one million rounds played in tournaments that award world ranking points.”

The EAGLE determines a player’s likely score on a hole based on a player’s OWGR-derived ability, a hole’s par and its length. The utility then simulates the golfer’s play on that hole and all remaining holes…10,000 times (as well as every other golfer’s remaining holes). The number of times a golfer wins in the simulation out of 10,000 attempts equates to his win probability.

You can learn more about The Economist’s EAGLE here.

Per EAGLE, after Jordan Spieth bogeyed the 10th and 11th holes at ANGC last year, he still had a 96 percent chance of winning the Masters. After the seven at the 12th hole his chance of winning fell to 23 percent.

As mentioned, The Economist found that Spieth’s collapse was not the worst in major championship history. Don’t worry, Jean van de Velde, it’s Adam Scott’s 2012 British Open blowup that’s the recipient of the inglorious honor. Four-up with four holes to play, Scott’s win probability was 98.6 percent.

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. TONEY P

    Apr 1, 2017 at 5:54 am

    Where was this for the Superbowl.

  2. 4pillars

    Mar 7, 2017 at 7:54 am

    If you look at the Economist website you will see they only calculated from when they had data, which is 2001.

    So Van der Velde in 1999 and Greg Norman in 1996 will not be in the list.

    So Adam Scott is the greatest choke since 2001 per the calculations but Jordan was second.

    This is another example of Golfwrx false facts.

  3. Dave R

    Mar 7, 2017 at 12:24 am

    Hm . What

  4. Mr Poopoo

    Mar 6, 2017 at 8:27 pm

    Wait wait wait…. Let me get this straight, so I’m totally clear on how this works…

    So you’re saying that dunking 2 in the water in the water lowers your win probability? Whoa. That’s deep.

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