This article is part of our PGA Tour Stats Review series.
PGA TOUR STATS: The Players Championship
Each week we'll list the statistical breakdown of the upcoming PGA Tour event. Below are the results of recent tournaments, including last week's Wells Fargo Championship, and the top finishers from last year's Players Championship.
The results grid was reduced for easier reading, starting with the Masters. However, the AVERAGE statistics at the bottom of the grid reflect data from completed 2012 tournaments.
For results from earlier events, go here.
For last year's full-season results, go here.
2012 PGA Tour Events
| EVENT | WINNER | DRIVE | DRIVE | DRIVE | DRIVE | GIR | GIR | STK GN | PUTTS | EAGLES | BIRDIE | BOGEY | DBL BOG |
| %of56 | RNK | DIS | DIS RNK | %of72 | RNK | /PUTT | RNK | ||||||
| Masters | Watson -10 P1 | 66.0 | 48 | 290.4 | 4 | 73.6 | 4 | 1.67 | 37 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Heritage | Pettersson -14 | 66.1 | 39 | 279.1 | 31 | 69.4 | 1 | 1.24 | 10 | 0 | 22 | 6 | 1 |
| Texas | Curtis -9 | 73.2 | 2 | 289.1 | 74 | 68.1 | 1 | 2.06 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 2 |
| Zurich | Dufner -19 P1 | 64.3 | 31 | 291.0 | 35 | 72.2 | 25 | 1.53 | 6 | 1 | 21 | 4 | 0 |
| Wells Fargo | Fowler -14 P1 | 62.5 | 2 | 305.9 | 13 | 79.2 | 5 | 0.68 | 30 | 1 | 22 | 8 | 1 |
| Points -14 P2 | 58.6 | 6 | 297.6 | 24 | 80.6 | 1 | -0.56 | 65 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 0 | |
| McIlroy -14 P2 | 41.1 | 65 | 330.9 | 1 | 79.2 | 5 | 0.83 | 17 | 0 | 23 | 9 | 0 | |
| AVERAGE | 62.3 | 31.1 | 286.8 | 37.8 | 73.8 | 15.4 | 1.39 | 14.1 | 0.7 | 19.8 | 5.5 | 0.4 |
Last Week's Wells Fargo Championship
Rickie Fowler genuinely earned his first PGA Tour win
PGA TOUR STATS: The Players Championship
Each week we'll list the statistical breakdown of the upcoming PGA Tour event. Below are the results of recent tournaments, including last week's Wells Fargo Championship, and the top finishers from last year's Players Championship.
The results grid was reduced for easier reading, starting with the Masters. However, the AVERAGE statistics at the bottom of the grid reflect data from completed 2012 tournaments.
For results from earlier events, go here.
For last year's full-season results, go here.
2012 PGA Tour Events
| EVENT | WINNER | DRIVE | DRIVE | DRIVE | DRIVE | GIR | GIR | STK GN | PUTTS | EAGLES | BIRDIE | BOGEY | DBL BOG |
| %of56 | RNK | DIS | DIS RNK | %of72 | RNK | /PUTT | RNK | ||||||
| Masters | Watson -10 P1 | 66.0 | 48 | 290.4 | 4 | 73.6 | 4 | 1.67 | 37 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Heritage | Pettersson -14 | 66.1 | 39 | 279.1 | 31 | 69.4 | 1 | 1.24 | 10 | 0 | 22 | 6 | 1 |
| Texas | Curtis -9 | 73.2 | 2 | 289.1 | 74 | 68.1 | 1 | 2.06 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 2 |
| Zurich | Dufner -19 P1 | 64.3 | 31 | 291.0 | 35 | 72.2 | 25 | 1.53 | 6 | 1 | 21 | 4 | 0 |
| Wells Fargo | Fowler -14 P1 | 62.5 | 2 | 305.9 | 13 | 79.2 | 5 | 0.68 | 30 | 1 | 22 | 8 | 1 |
| Points -14 P2 | 58.6 | 6 | 297.6 | 24 | 80.6 | 1 | -0.56 | 65 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 0 | |
| McIlroy -14 P2 | 41.1 | 65 | 330.9 | 1 | 79.2 | 5 | 0.83 | 17 | 0 | 23 | 9 | 0 | |
| AVERAGE | 62.3 | 31.1 | 286.8 | 37.8 | 73.8 | 15.4 | 1.39 | 14.1 | 0.7 | 19.8 | 5.5 | 0.4 |
Last Week's Wells Fargo Championship
Rickie Fowler genuinely earned his first PGA Tour win on a demanding course over a highly talented field - No fluke here! Fowler got his first professional title last October with a six-shot win over Rory McIlroy at the OneAsia Korean Open.
For most of this year Fowler seemed to be getting in his own way because of his number of bogeys per event. Last week, he had eight bogeys and one double against an eagle and 22 birdies. On this difficult course he did well enough to win.
D.A. Points had only four bogeys, the most painful being at the 72nd hole, and no double bogeys. McIlroy had nine bogeys and no doubles, against no eagles and 23 birdies.
Fowler's win will bolster his confidence with the knowledge that he can prevail over a strong field on a trying course. He's a valuable fantasy piece.
This Week's Players Championship
| EVENT | WINNER | DRIVE | DRIVE | DRIVE | DRIVE | GIR | GIR | PUTTS | PUTTS | EAGLE/ | BOGEY/ | ||
| %of56 | RNK | DIS | DIS RNK | %of72 | RNK | Per GIR | RNK | RND | RNK | BIRDIE | DBL | ||
| 2011 Wells Fargo | Choi -13 P1 | 76.4 | 10 | 280.8 | 43 | 69.4 | 21 | 1.64 | 8 | 27.0 | 6 | 1/19 | 6/1 |
| Toms -13 P1 | 78.6 | 1 | 276.6 | 60 | 73.6 | 4 | 1.70 | 24 | 28.0 | 20 | 0/18 | 5/0 | |
| Goydos -11 | 78.6 | 1 | 277.8 | 55 | 76.4 | 2 | 1.73 | 38 | 29.3 | 48 | 0/19 | 6/1 | |
| Ldonald -10 | 69.6 | 17 | 281.3 | 41 | 72.2 | 11 | 1.73 | 40 | 28.8 | 40 | 0/17 | 7/0 | |
| Watney -10 | 58.9 | 53 | 292.8 | 7 | 73.6 | 4 | 1.60 | 3 | 28.3 | 30 | 1/21 | 9/2 | |
| Day -10 | 67.9 | 24 | 290.6 | 12 | 69.4 | 21 | 1.64 | 8 | 27.8 | 18 | 1/19 | 8/2 | |
| Mahan -9 | 60.7 | 44 | 279.3 | 51 | 66.7 | 34 | 1.75 | 46 | 29.0 | 46 | 0/21 | 8/2 | |
| Holmes -9 | 58.9 | 53 | 312.9 | 1 | 62.5 | 52 | 1.78 | 57 | 27.5 | 12 | 0/17 | 6/1 | |
| Quiros -9 | 58.9 | 53 | 295.9 | 3 | 70.8 | 17 | 1.73 | 35 | 28.8 | 40 | 2/17 | 12/0 | |
| Dufner -9 | 69.6 | 17 | 282.8 | 36 | 77.8 | 1 | 1.79 | 60 | 30.5 | 71 | 1/16 | 7/1 | |
| Baddeley -9 | 57.1 | 59 | 281.4 | 40 | 63.9 | 45 | 1.65 | 12 | 27.3 | 8 | 0/20 | 11/0 | |
| AVERAGE | 66.8 | 30.2 | 286.6 | 31.7 | 70.6 | 19.3 | 1.70 | 30.1 | 28.4 | 30.8 |
The PGA Tour showcase, sometimes dubbed, the fifth major. It certainly attracts a top-notch field, including many Internationals. One attraction is the $9.5 million purse that pays $1.71 to the winner - the highest in the world.
Long hitters and short hitters are in contention here on a regular basis. David Toms lost in a single-hole playoff to K.J. Choi in 2011. Paul Goydos has had a second-place finish. Luke Donald, Fred Funk (winner in 2005) are short hitters but highly talented in getting the best out of their games. Don't eliminate a short hitter you think has a win in him this week.
No player has successfully defended a title at the Players and only six defending champs have finished in the top-10. The trophy is spread around.
Last Five Winners:
2011 - K.J. Choi, 13-under 275
2010 - Tim Clark, 16-under 272
2009 - Henric Stenson, 12-under 276
2008 - Sergio Garcia, 5-under 283
2007 - Phil Mickelson. 11-under 277
(Note that four internationals have won the last four years. It's time for the U.S.A.)
Last year's Low Scores of the Day:
Round 1 - 64, Nick Wayney
Round 2 - 65, Greg Chalmers
Round 3 - 66, Peter Hanson
Round 4 - 65, Sergio Garcia
All nine players are in the 2012 field.
For your roster: Choose players who have had experience here who have strong stats in GIR, scrambling, strokes saved-putting and bogey avoidance.
