Opinion & Analysis
The 5 Biggest Disappointments So Far on the PGA Tour in 2017
With a third of the PGA Tour season almost complete and a sensational Masters in the books, it’s time to assess the performances from some of the PGA Tour’s biggest names.
While many golfers have lived up to their star power — from the Dustin Johnson juggernaut, to Sergio Garcia finally landing his maiden major win in dramatic fashion — there have been many big names who have fallen short of the expectations their pedigree demands. Here’s a look at five players who have disappointed so far in 2017.
Patrick Reed
After his inspiring performance at last year’s Ryder Cup, the stage looked set for Reed to make 2017 a landmark year for himself.
Instead, he’s done the opposite, enduring a dismal beginning to 2017. The Texan has only one top-10 finish to his name, which is four fewer than he had at the same stage last year. He has also missed three cuts, two more than at this juncture last year. More worrying than anything, though, is the fact that those three missed cuts have come at his last three outings. This suggests that his game in is worse shape now than at any other stage of the year.
One area of his game that may be at the root of his poor results this season is his scrambling. Reed, who is known for his touch around the greens, was 8th in scrambling in 2016, but currently sits 176th in the same statistic so far this year. Scrambling would have been crucial to his chances at Augusta, where he ultimately failed to make the cut, continuing his perplexing run of never finishing inside the top-10 of a major.
Bubba Watson
Two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson’s poor form extends beyond 2017, but a first-ever missed cut at Augusta National this year really brought home his struggles.
Watson is rapidly falling down the Official World Golf Rankings. Sitting in the top-10 at the time of the 2016 Ryder Cup, he is now ranked 24th. With no top-20 finishes in stroke play events this year, something is seriously awry. He looked on course to finding his game last week at the European Tour’s Shenzhen International in China, but after soaring to the first round lead he could only manage a T26 in the end.
It’s been well-documented how poor Bubba is on the greens at the moment — an opinion very hard to disagree with, as Watson is 192nd in Strokes Gained Putting in 2017. Also, his physique has been under the microscope, as Watson appears far thinner than in previous years. Whether this is hurting his golf game is hard to tell, but one area where Bubba seems to be cooling off is a big one for him: driving distance. Watson averaged 315 yards off the tee in 2015, and 310 yards off the tee in 2016. In 2017, he has averaged 305 off the tee. A worrying trend for Watson.
Danny Willett
The Yorkshire man’s troubles have not only continued, but they have escalated in 2017. He’s dropped 10 places down the OWGR in 2017 to the 21st spot. In five PGA Tour events this year, he’s recorded three missed cuts, a 69th-place finish, and a group-stage exit at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
A T5 at the Maybank Championship on the European Tour has been his one crumb of comfort, but that was back at the beginning of February. For Willett, who is known for getting animated on the golf course, his patience may be wearing thin. There isn’t one area of his game that seems to be helping him, as he holds a negative strokes gained statistic in all of the crucial categories.
Zach Johnson
Just like Bubba Watson, Johnson is another two-time major winner in poor form. With a current ranking of No. 56 in the OWGR — his lowest position since 2006 — he’s struggled to make any impression in 2017.
After beginning his year with a T6 at the Sony Open, the 41-year-old has failed to record another top-10 finish in stroke play events all year. He has two missed cuts to his name and also a third-round missed cut at the Careerbuilder Challenge back in January. Also, in his last four stroke play events, he has a cumulative score of 22-over par.
Johnson’s iron game appears to be the area causing him most problems. There has been a notable drop off in both Greens in Regulation and Strokes Gained: Approaching the Green since Johnson triumphed at St. Andrews. In 2015, he was 37th in GIR. He dropped to 122nd last year and is currently 178th. Similarly in Strokes Gained: Approaching the Green, there has been a great decline; he was 12th in 2015 in this statistic, dropping to 79th last year and 181st this year.
For a man who still drives his ball extremely accurately (T15 in Driving Accuracy), it seems as though his iron play is the cause for his poor 2017 thus far.
Henrik Stenson
On the face of it a second-place finish in Dubai, alongside a T8 in Abu Dhabi and a T7 at the Valspar Championship, it may seem harsh to include Stenson in this list. But the reigning Open Champion sets very high standards, and three missed cuts and a WD in five PGA Tour events this year is a really disappointing return for the big Swede.
Stenson has failed to continue on from his spectacular win in Scotland last summer, and having only broken 70 once on the PGA Tour this year, he has already missed more cuts this year than in his last two seasons combined on Tour. Despite this, Stenson still sits sixth in the OWGR.
Opinion & Analysis
AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience
This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.
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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.
With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.
Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!
Club Junkie
Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast
The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.
Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.
If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.
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Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
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R4C
May 1, 2017 at 12:38 am
Opinions are worthless; leave the guys alone and let them play! Who knows and no-one should have the right to know why things aren’t working out for top sportsmen. Find something interesting to write about
Mark Walgren
Apr 30, 2017 at 11:39 pm
Patrick Reed sucks
IHateLoveGolf
Apr 30, 2017 at 4:25 pm
I’m hearing there are no TMaG guys on this list.
Rex
Apr 28, 2017 at 7:24 pm
Thank you for your comment
Nico
Apr 28, 2017 at 6:21 pm
everyone chokes, it happens.
Guia
Apr 28, 2017 at 2:04 pm
Everybody goes through changes, not to worry.
David Ables
Apr 28, 2017 at 1:47 pm
No TMaG guys on this list !
Moses
Apr 28, 2017 at 1:10 pm
Ball change and equipment change.
Gold is a game of millimeters, spin rates and launch angles.
Mike Honcho
Apr 28, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Bubba. One word, Volvik.
David Ables
Apr 28, 2017 at 12:01 pm
No TMaG guys on this list!
Wanda
Apr 28, 2017 at 9:45 am
It’s definately the clubs
Scott
Apr 28, 2017 at 9:13 am
I agree with everyone except Zach. I am not sure how you could be surprised when an aging short hitter starts losing it.
Desmond
Apr 28, 2017 at 9:39 am
But if it is his iron play …
birdie
Apr 28, 2017 at 12:24 pm
if he’s hitting shorter off the tee he’s probably hitting longer irons into greens.
JD
Apr 28, 2017 at 8:27 am
PXG seems to be working really well for Zach. He’s the Steph Curry of golf- trying to peddle ugly shoes no one wants. Except Zach’s shoes cost $5000.