Stats Lie and Liars Stat: 2009 Edition

by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Oct 18, 2009 9:40 AM EDT

A close at look at the stats always reveal a few pretty cool facts. I am on record regarding the insignificance of many of these stats because of their interdependency with other stats. But, they be what they be, so....

Tigers Woods boomed one drive 370 yards this year. However, there are 368 longer drives this year including one hit by Charley Hoffman measured at 467 yards. "Two Ton" Tim Herron, Jeff Maggert and "Two Glove" Tommy Gainey have longer drives than Woods.

Apparently, hitting the green from 75-100 yards out is Kryptonite to Tiger. He stands at 131st in this stat hitting the green only 75.88% of the time. Oddly enough, at a greater distance, 100-125 yards out, Tiger is 25th and 79.21%.

When hitting from a fairway bunker, Tiger gets on the green only 25.7% of the time putting him in 187th place. Considering his shot on the 18th hole from the bunker, over water, at the 2000 Canadian Open, this stat surprises me.

Phil Mickelson has these scoring average stats: 1) Scoring Average (Actual) - 93rd. 2) Scoring Average (Before Cut) - 80th. 3) Third Round Scoring Average - 101st and 4) Final Round Scoring Average - 103rd. And, with these scoring numbers, he is ranked number two on the planet.

From inside 75 yards, Mickelson, by many considered the greatest short game player today, stands in 180th position just getting the ball on the putting surface. AND, he is 134th in sand saves at 46.81%.

Phil stands 158th making putts inside of five feet. Wow!

FanPosts are written by Waggle Room members. Viewpoints expressed do not necessarily reflect those of WaggleRoom.com, editor, Charles Boyer or any other writer or member.

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Comments

Statistics do not lie ... Liars misuse statistics.

Liars cherry pick data.
Liars make up false data.
Liars use data that is not relevant.
The player rankings are based on the position a player finishes in the tournaments they play. There are many tournaments that players gain no points. To understand how meaningful individual stats are versus the player ranking, I would like to see the numbers for only the tournaments that the players gain ranking points. We all know Phil Mickleson is a Dr. Jeckyll – Mr. Hyde type of player. Analysis and comparison of Dr. Jeckyll tournaments (points) versus Mr. Hyde (no points) tournaments for the players would yield a better understanding of the relevance of the stats than the current numbers. You are correct that some of the stats may be interesting, but have no significant meaning as to the quality of a players game or their ranking.

by tatkins on Oct 18, 2009 6:28 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly. I can tell you

for a fact, I have ‘manipulated’ data to get the stats I am looking for. I did NOT invent or change the data, merely displayed it in a different light. So, in actuality it is also a stat.

Wow. That even confused me. Of course, on this website, I confuse myself 67.48% of the time, versus 51.81% on other sites…

...from the land of pleasant living, Baltimore.

by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on Oct 19, 2009 1:33 PM EDT reply actions