Opinion & Analysis

If Brooks Koepka’s recent putting is a trend, he could win EVERY major!

Published

7 years ago

Jul 31, 2019

In recent years, we have known Brooks Koepka as the MAJOR KILLER. While he certainly has made the clutch putts needed to finish off the big ones, he has clearly done most of the damage with his prodigious, straight drives and accurate approach shots.

In 2018 and 2019 to date, Brooks is ranked 19th and ninth respectively in strokes gained: tee-to-green. At the same time, in strokes gained: putting, he was ranked 68th in 2018, but going into the last event of the season (The Tour Championship) was ranked 128th. Before his putting performance last week at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Brooks was ranked 101st in strokes gained: putting—barely better than the Tour average.

Brooks’ putting performance this past week overshadowed his long game by far and was one of the best that I have seen in a Tour Winner—EVER. His strokes gained: tee-to-green was very good: 1.168, ranked sixth, and good enough to bump him from 11th on Tour to ninth for the season. His strokes gained putting was 2.336, ranked first, and good enough to bump him from 101 to 55 for the 2018-19 season.

My point being, if this was more than a hot week but a genuine sign of improvement, LOOK OUT, field! You are all fighting for second!

How good was Brooks’ putting?

He had two three-putts—from 51 and 66 feet. Understandable from long range, these are barely miscues and certainly not what I would consider errors. Further, they would have a very minor negative impact on his strokes gained number. Why? Because the 2.0 range for the PGA Tour is about 34 feet, meaning that a two-putt from that distance would produce a 0.0 strokes gained and a three-putt from that distance would carry a -1.0 strokes gained. Accordingly, Brooks’ long-range three-putts would result in -.70 SG each, or less. (If you need more on strokes gained and the calculations, visit ShotByShot.com and watch my short video on strokes gained Explained under Help & Downloads on our HOME page)

It was Brooks’ outstanding one-putt success that set him apart this week. The chart below compares Brooks to the performance of the FedEx St. Jude FIELD; and for perspective, the second chart includes the average one-putt percentages for the average male golfers (15-19 handicap).

For a complete Strokes Gained analysis of your game and to see exactly how your putting compares, log on to: www.shotbyshot.com

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Peter Sanders

In 1989, Peter Sanders founded Golf Research Associates, LP, creating what is now referred to as Strokes Gained Analysis. His goal was to design and market a new standard of statistically based performance analysis programs using proprietary computer models. A departure from “traditional stats,” the program provided analysis with answers, supported by comparative data. In 2006, the company’s website, ShotByShot.com, was launched. It provides interactive, Strokes Gained analysis for individual golfers and more than 150 instructors and coaches that use the program to build and monitor their player groups. Peter has written, or contributed to, more than 60 articles in major golf publications including Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golf for Women. From 2007 through 2013, Peter was an exclusive contributor and Professional Advisor to Golf Digest and GolfDigest.com. Peter also works with PGA Tour players and their coaches to interpret the often confusing ShotLink data. Zach Johnson has been a client for nearly five years. More recently, Peter has teamed up with Smylie Kaufman’s swing coach, Tony Ruggiero, to help guide Smylie’s fast-rising career.

2 Comments

dat

Jul 31, 2019 at 4:20 pm

He will be the most boring GOAT ever in any sport if that is the case.

Reply Report comment
- GolfHo
  
  Jul 31, 2019 at 11:31 pm
  
  His job is to win…not entertain you. If you want entertainment go to the circus or a WWE event.
  
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Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

Published

6 days ago

Jun 5, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

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!

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2 weeks ago

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