Tiger Likes Low Number Majors

Brett Avery's PGA Championship stat package is now posted online at GolfDigest.com.

He offers an interesting chart on Tiger's major wins.

The gist?

All but two of Tiger's major wins has come at events where the average scoring could be called "low."

Avery writes:

From the 1999 PGA to last week's 2006 PGA at Medinah No. 3, Tiger Woods has won an incredible 11 of 29 major titles. During that span Woods served as a catalyst for distance increases that prompted the transformation of most host courses. While he won last week on the longest course in majors history, it resulted in yet another victory in a championship with a relatively low scoring average in relation to par. Woods has one the five "easiest" majors since the 1999 PGA, including last week (72.635 average or 0.635 over par). 

Staring at the chart, it's hard not to notice that of the majors at the high scoring majors not won by Tiger, each was marked by course setups ranging from way too narrow (Winged Foot, Oak Hill) to borderline goofy (Royal St. George's, Pinehurst, Southern Hills) to completely over the top (Shinnecock Hills).

When you think of the worst setups of the last 7 years, elements of each of the aforementioned come to mind. 

Comments

[John M]

Interesting chart and info. Yet I wonder if that is the full explanation. Many of the events he didn't win came during swing change period: 2003, 2004. I think that accounts for nearly half. He was pretty competitive in many of the rest, finishing 2nd thru 4th several times. The only blowup was this year's U.S. Open, and there were extenuating circumstances.

Great site you have, Geoff!

[NRH]

Very interesting.

Augusta 4x
St. Andrews 2x
Medinah 2x
Pebble 1
Valhalla 1
Bethpage 1
Hoylake 1

The only aberration I see for Tiger's 'style' of play is Hoylake and that was based on what's between his ears.

Returning to Pebble, St. Andrews, Valhalla and Bethpage by 2010. Throw in Torrey and 4 more Masters
and Jack's mark seems like a formality.

Yet to win at Riviera and doesn't bother to play Westchester or Hilton Head. Hmmmm.

Not a bash, he's the best ever, just saying the variety isn't terribly extensive.

[John M]

NRH, after seeing your post, I was curious which courses Jack won his majors on. Here they are:

# Wins Course

6 ANGC
2 Baltusrol
2 St. Andrews
1 Muirfield
1 Pebble Beach
1 Oakmont
1 Dallas Athletic Club
1 PGA National Golf Club
1 Canterbury
1 Firestone
1 Oak Hill

I don't know all those courses. How would you describe their variety? I do note that Tiger and Jack both have multiple majors at Augusta and St. Andrews.

[John Gorman]

I agree with much of what you guys are saying. Tiger's the best, but he really thrives on certain kinds of courses. He likes to have it be "right in front of you".

Before he won the last two majors, I made a similar argument to many of you here: http://networkedgolfer.blogspot.com/2006/06/in-hindsight-was-some-of-tigers-run.html

Now that theory is a little burnt, but not totally useless.

JOHN M - Can you list all of the courses in which Jack placed second in majors? That might be even more revealing.

[F. X.]

Shotwise Oak Hill is a big brawny course like Torrey Pines or Bethpage Black, just lovlier and more majestic. Chalk that up to swing change. The 2002 Open at Muirfield caught Tiger on the wrong side of the weather and either created his knee injury or exacerbated it, right? Nevertheless he got caught by a hot Beem in the 02 PGA and embarked on the Haney program. Since 05 it's been Tiger, Phil and two guys who know how to play Sandbelt courses: Campbell and Ogilvy. Watching them win on 'goofy' setups had to have helped Tiger gameplan Hoylake.

[Van]

The records show both played St. Andrews, Pebble, and Augusta well. That's enough course talk.

I prefer talking about the players.

Bread 'n butter for both, the long high cut.

Jack, feel. The Messiah, technical.

Jack, the better driver, played between the lines more. Both, superb long iron players. The Messiah, with shortgame edge.

Both superb putters, though different technique. Jack, dieing at the hole. The Messiah, through the hole...though that philosophy may be changing.

Equally giant-size egos, with strong wills to win. Hitting every shot, in practice or competition, to their utmost ability.

[John M]

Van, good analysis. Only thing I might change is the short game comparison. I think Tiger has more than just an edge. More like a huge gap. I agree with you on the courses.