Is It Now Ball-Striking For Dough, Putt For…?

Putting has long been thought as the most important part of a golf game. However, it appears a strong tee-to-green game (ball striking) might be the pick to click.

Golf.com’s Daniel Rapaport provides the supportive stats.

To illustrate just how much more important ball striking is than putting, here are the top 10 finishers in strokes gained tee to green:

• Rory McIlroy

• Justin Thomas

• Hideki Matsuyama

• Adam Scott

• Patrick Cantlay

• Paul Casey

• Byeong Hun An

• Dustin Johnson

• Corey Conners

• Jon Rahm

Eight of those 10 player made the Tour Championship.

Here are the top 10 finishers in strokes gained putting:

• Jordan Spieth

• Dominic Bozzelli

• Graeme McDowell

• Andrew Putnam

• Aaron Baddeley

• Patton Kizzire

• Wyndham Clark

• Vaughn Taylor

• Beau Hossler

None of those 10 players made the Tour Championship.

I’d say that typically, the best ball striker with good putting stats that week usually wins.