This article is part of our Golf Draft Kit series.
A player's grade is based solely on his value for 2017-18. The value compares 2016-17 earnings vs. 2017-18 projected earnings. A player like Jason Dufner might earn a "D" grade or lower, but that is no indication of how he will play this year. It is simply a result of how his 2017-18 projected earnings compare to his 2016-17 earnings.
Improvement percentage (2016-17 earnings vs. 2017-18 projected earnings) is the factor that drives the grading process. Anything positive is a good score, though a slight positive score might just reflect inflation in prize money.
Ranking includes only 2017-18 PGA Tour card winners who played at least 10 events on last year's tour:
• Top 125 on FedEx Cup Points List
• Notable Exempt Players not in Top 125 (E)
• Non-Rookies from Web.com Tour Top-25 Money List (W)
• Non-Rookies from Web.com Tour Finals (F)
• International Newcomers (I)
• Conditional Status Players who Finished 126-150 on Points List (C)
Click column headers to sort.
| GOLFER | 2016-17 EVENTS | 2016-17 EARNINGS | 2017-18 PROJ. EARNINGS | IMPROVE% | GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Danny Willett – E | 22 | $217,975 | $600,000 | 175.3% | A |
| 2. Jimmy Walker | 21 | $1,101,162 | $3,000,000 | 172.4% | A |
| 3. Bubba Watson | 22 | $1,223,129 | $3,000,000 | 145.3% | A |
| 4. Jason Day | 20 | $2,978,181 | $6,000,000 | 101.5% | A |
| 5. Nicholas Lindheim – F | 21 | $175,107 | $350,000 | 99.9% | A |
| 6. Patrick Cantlay | 13 | $2,049,632 | $4,000,000 | 95.2% | A |
| 7. Ryan Palmer – C | 20 | $772,560 | $1,500,000 | 94.2% | A |
| 8. Daniel |
