In professional golf, not all tournaments are equal. Majors and weekly tour events differ in course difficulty, field strength, and scoring expectations. This means the statistics that predict success also shift depending on the format. Understanding these differences is essential for fans, analysts, and those interested in informed decision-making.
Strokes Gained: Approach
In majors, strokes gained: approach is often the clearest indicator of success, as firm greens and tougher setups demand pinpoint iron play. Players must control distance and trajectory to avoid costly mistakes, making approach play more decisive than in weeklies, where softer conditions allow for more aggressive targeting.
For anyone evaluating form and consistency when betting on golf tournaments, approach statistics offer a reliable measure of a player’s ability to handle elite-level ball-striking challenges. Those who consistently gain strokes in this area are often the ones best equipped to navigate the rigours of major championship conditions.
Driving Accuracy vs. Driving Distance
While driving distance is a key advantage on tour generally, driving accuracy plays a bigger role in majors. Weeklies tend to have wider fairways and less punishing rough, allowing power hitters to dominate despite occasional misses.
In contrast, majors often feature narrow landing zones, deep rough, and strategically placed hazards. Players who find fairways reliably are better positioned to attack pins and avoid big numbers. This shift in importance explains why shorter, accurate drivers often perform better in majors than in regular events.
Scrambling and Bogey Avoidance
In majors, greens are harder to hit and short game tests are more severe. Scrambling becomes a crucial measure of a player’s ability to save par when missing greens. It reflects composure under pressure and technical skill around the greens, especially when faced with tough up-and-downs from awkward lies or bunkers.
Equally important is bogey avoidance. In difficult scoring conditions, it’s not birdies but the ability to avoid mistakes that separates the top finishers. Players who limit bogeys while capitalising on scoring chances tend to rise on major leaderboards.
Putting Performance
Strokes gained: putting is always important but carries different weight across formats. In weeklies, softer greens and generous setups mean birdies are plentiful. Hot putters can ride momentum and win without elite ball-striking. These events often become putting contests where confidence with the flatstick is the deciding factor.
In majors, however, fast and undulating greens put greater emphasis on lag putting and touch. While still relevant, putting is just one part of a larger test, often secondary to approach play and course management.
Par 5 Scoring
In regular tour events, par 5 scoring often determines the outcome. These holes are usually reachable in two and present clear birdie or eagle opportunities. Players who consistently take advantage of them gain a major edge in tournaments where scores reach 20-under or better.
Majors, on the other hand, typically feature longer par 5s or setups that make them less accessible. Scoring is harder across the board, so success depends more on consistency than capitalising on a handful of holes.
Proximity to the Hole
In softer weekly events, proximity to the hole is a strong indicator of scoring potential. With receptive greens, aggressive pin-seeking is rewarded. Players who can dial in wedges and short irons tend to generate more birdie chances and low rounds.
In majors, the value of this stat declines slightly. Firmer greens and tucked pins reduce the reward for aggressive play, and a conservative approach that favours the centre of the green often pays off more.
Strokes Gained: Tee to Green
This comprehensive stat is a valuable indicator in all formats, but its importance peaks in majors. Strokes gained: tee to green measures overall ball-striking and course navigation.
In demanding conditions, it is the players who excel in every phase of long-game execution who rise to the top. While still relevant in weeklies, putting and hot streaks can sometimes mask deficiencies tee to green over four rounds.
Why the Right Stats Make All the Difference
Understanding which stats matter most in majors versus weeklies helps cut through the noise and reveals what truly drives performance. Majors reward precision, control, and discipline, while weekly events favour aggressive scoring and putting form.
Recognising this distinction is crucial for fans, analysts, and those who follow the game closely. Whether you’re tracking your favourite player or evaluating form for smarter insights, aligning your focus with the right metrics is what separates casual observation from sharp analysis.