How Henrik Stenson Won The Players

by Ryan Ballengee on May 11, 2009 12:40 PM EDT

I scoured over the data from this weekend at TPC Sawgrass to see what it was exactly that made Henrik Stenson win The Players. Using Many Eyes, I think I found some of the reason.

While Henrik Stenson was unbelievable down the back stretch on Sunday, it was the front nine that won him the golf tournament. Take a look at this chart of the hole-by-hole scoring average of Stenson, Tiger Woods, and players finishing in the top 10. Stenson beats or matches the field on every hole on the front - except the par 3 8th. He lags behind Woods by .25 strokes on the par 5 9th.

This resulted in a huge advantage for Stenson on the front side.

Player	Out	In	Total
Stenson	34.5	34.5	69
Woods	36.25	34.5	70.75
Top 10	35.63	34.88	70.52

In other words, Stenson gained almost 2 strokes on Woods on the front side and over a stroke on his competition in aggregate. They played the back nine basically even all week.

The interesting thing is that Stenson didn't really outshine his competition in key stats that make up a round. He hit about 1 more green and 1 more fairway per round than the players in the top 10. He hit almost 3 more fairways per round than Woods and 1.25 more greens in regulation.

That may not seemingly translate into much, but missed fairways and greens at the Stadium Course tend to result in worse than bogey. Stenson stayed out of trouble a little bit better than his competition and was more consistent than the field when it came to hitting greens. Over four rounds, that all added up to him becoming the 2009 Players Champion.

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Comments

who'da thunk it

wow – Stenson won the tournament because….he shot lower scores than the rest of the field. (You’re STILL hungover from the birthday party, aren’t you) :-)

I almost through something at the TV on Friday when John Hawkins, on xxx Golf Channel’s Live at the Players, said that going as far under par as possible would be a big help through the week.

WOW ! Insight you just can’t pay for…or more likely WOULDN’T pay for. (but xxx Golf Channel is paying him to say this kind of “stuff” week in and week out.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on May 11, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

Haha, I liked the hole by hole comparison because the broadcasters talked so much about how the back nine is where the tournament is won and lost. This year, that wasn’t really true. Stenson won it by handling the front better than everyone.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on May 11, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I noticed that, too – but only once or twice did they remember that the tournament has a new date in a month that usually has a lot more calm weather – not to mention complete bermuda coverage instead of overseeding.

The back side is where everybody tends to tighten up their games and play more conservatively.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on May 11, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Great observation

I bet you could do similar comparisons at the Masters. The back nine on Sunday is the most exciting segment, but it is only 12.5% of the total medal play competition…

by One-Eyed Golfer Guy on May 22, 2009 9:15 AM EDT reply actions