Golf is a game of numbers and statistics. Some fascinating stats emerged during The Masters, and it got us checking the record books to come up with some numbers that will stun you… Bubba Watson went 296 holes before three-putting during the third round of The Masters. That is the equivalent of 16 rounds and eight holes. Luke Donald once had a streak that ended after 449 holes. But Dave Stockton, the man many top pros turn to for putting advice, once went a mind-blowing 940 holes without a three putt. That’s more than 52 rounds - or 13 tournaments! Bubba hit a 366-yard drive on the 13th hole at Augusta in the final round of The Masters. In 2011, Dustin Johnson hit a 463-yard drive at the Deutsche Bank Championship, with the help of a cart path, while last year, Phil Mickelson managed a mere 450 yards at the Cadillac Championship. Despite all the talk about today’s game being all about power, the average driving distance in 2013 was “only” 287.2 yards. Jack Nicklaus had 24 eagles during his career at The Masters, and 506 birdies. Anthony Kim (remember him?) had 11 birdies in one round at Augusta, during the 2009 tournament. And Phil Mickelson had 25 birdies during the 2001 Masters, and still didn’t win. In 2005, Tiger Woods had seven consecutive birdies in the third round. Between 1997 and 2005, Tiger Woods played in 142 consecutive events without missing the cut. In his entire career, he has only missed out on the last two rounds on nine occasions. The record on the European Tour is 82, by Ernie Els. In 1945, Byron Nelson won 11 consecutive tournaments through a stretch from March to August and 18 in total that year. Tiger Woods won nine times total in 2000. Both are very tough feats. In 2001, at TPC Scottsdale, Andrew Magee hit a hole-in-one. Nothing remarkable about that, you might think, until you learn that he did it on a 332-yard par four. Sam Snead remained competitive well into his sixties. During the Quad Cities Open in 1979, he shot rounds of 66 and 67. He was 67 years old at the time. Paul Lawrie won The Open Championship at Carnoustie in 199. He started the final round 10 shots behind the leader, Jean Van de Velde. Michelle Wie is the youngest player to make the cut in a major. She was just 13 when she did so in the 2003 Kraft Nabisco Championship. Not only that, but she played in the final group on the Sunday, eventually finishing ninth. John Daly holds the record for the most number of shots on a single hole on the PGA Tour - 18. The European Tour record is 20, by Philippe Porquier in 1978. Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo share the record for the most wins in a season on the European Tour - six. Sam Snead won 82 time son the PGA Tour - Tiger Woods has 79 to his name and counting. John Hudson achieved fame during the second round of the 1971 Martini International at the Royal Norwich Golf Club in England. Using a four iron at the par-three, 195-yard 11th hole, Hudson holed his tee shot. At the next hole, the downhill 311-yard, par-four 12th, using a driver, he once again holed his tee shot, for another ace. It is believed to be the only time a player has scored holes-in-one at consecutive holes in a major professional event. Hudson eventually finished tied for ninth place and earned the princely sum of $220 USD (£160).
Posted on: Wed, 23 Apr 2014 11:24:50 +0000