Predictability and Stability of Professional Golf Association Tour Statistics

Abstract

Professional Golf Association (PGA) statistics for the years 1986–1988 were analyzed to assess their value as predictive tools. Previous studies have not yielded a consensus regarding whether PGA statistics can be used to predict outcome, but preliminary indications suggested that hitting greens in regulation is the most important factor in maintaining a low scoring average. Using a stepwise multiple-regression procedure, the present study confirmed this finding as stable over a three-year period. It is concluded that replication of previous findings and stability of relationships over time suggest that the selected PGA statistics aie a useful predictive tool.