PGA Tour Golf Player Profiles And Ratings
* Player Profiles & ratings with a twist *
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| Bryson Ratings Profile |
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| Dustin Johnson Profile |
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| Harris English Profile |
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| Hideki Profile |
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| Justin Thomas Profile |
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| Matt Fitzpatrick Profile |
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| Webb Simpson Player Profile |
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| Jordan Spieth Profile |
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| Matthew Wolff Profile |
Note: these are selected PGA Tour and European tour player profiles and
ratings from previous seasons. All up to date season 2022 player profiles
along with course profiles are in the 2022 course fit profiling manual
Below are more player profiles in text form from previous seasons....
PLAYER PROFILE: PATRICK CANTLAY
The Californian turned pro in 2012 after holding the world amateur no. 1 golf ranking for 54 weeks. A future world no. 1 in the pro ranks, Cantlay only has 2 PGA Tour wins to his name so far. This is due to a car accident which saw personal tragedy and delays to his progress. Cantlay is a player who excels in every department. He’s been through a lot and is intense when in contention - Tiger like, and not talking to anyone. Augusta National is the perfect course fit. Watch out.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 10
Driving Accuracy: 7
Total Driving efficiency: 9.1
Tee To Green
Long Irons: 9.5
Approach play: 9.5
On and around the green
Scrambling: 9
Lag Putting: 7
Holing out: 9
Par breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: n/a
Par 5 performance: 10
Mentality: 10
Overall: 9.23
Superpowers: Owns the towering high draw off the tee. Nerves and competitive nature. Par breaker machine. Silence.
Course fit: Cantlay’s overall game is so good, he can, and has, competed at all types of courses, but in particular, watch out for him on the championship courses, especially those that suit a right to left shot shape. Augusta, Quail Hollow, Muirfield Village (already won here)
PLAYER PROFILE: RORY McIlroy
The best player in the world when all the big guys are in their top form. A better driver of the ball has arguably never existed, with his stock high draw off the markers that carries forever. A massive strength of his game. Obliterates long parkland tree lined type tracks, especially ones with large raised greens, and in soft conditions. Distance control with the irons and wedges deserted him for a while but now they are back. Working on short game and putting with Brad Faxon has taken him up a level. Struggles on greens with stimp 12+
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 10
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 9.4
Tee To Green
Irons: 10
Approach play: 10
On and around the green
Scrambling: 10
Lag Putting: 8.5
Holing out: 8.5
Par breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Par 5 performance: 10
Wind play: 6.5
Mentality: 9
Overall: 9.19
Superpowers: Consistency. Big Stick. Conditioning. Great hair.
Course fit: Loves the big treelined courses like Congressional, Firestone, Muirfield and Quail Hollow where long and straight gets it done. Raised greens benefit his high towering approaches. If it’s a long, generous softish parklands championship track, Rory wins.
Examples: Augusta, Medinah, Quail Hollow, Firestone, Earth course Dubai, Sheshan, East Lake
PLAYER PROFILE: JUSTIN THOMAS
Tops the Nicspicks strength rankings and excels in all compartments of the game. Grew up playing with Jordan Spieth and owns the same mentality of wanting to win by as many as he can, whenever he can. Makes birdies and eagle streaks aplenty. Blue numbers everywhere. Known as pound for pound longest hitter in the game with one of the fastest swing speeds. Plays with a long towering baby fade off the tee and is as aggressive a player as they come
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 9.5
Driving Accuracy: 7
Total Driving efficiency: 8.75
Tee To Green
Irons: 10
Approach play: 10
On and around the green
Scrambling: 9.5
Lag Putting: 8
Holing out: 9.5
Par breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: n/a
Mentality: 9
Par 5 performance: 10
Overall: 9.42
Superpowers: Looks like Jordan Spieth. Likes to blitz fields and go for the jugular. Par breaker machine.
Course fit: Classic tracks where long and straight from the markers, and taking out the pins from approaches gets it done
Examples: Quail Hollow, TPC Scottsdale, Firestone. Has an affinity with Sedgefield
PLAYER PROFILE: JON RAHM
Feisty Spaniard took Patrick Cantlay’s record of most weeks as world no.1 amateur and now he’s out to do the same in the pro ranks. All rounder who can play any shot but prefers the power fade off the tips. Competitive nature and drive makes him a threat in any event. Only utilises a 3 quarter swing but can keep up with the longest. Gets a little heated on the track.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 10
Driving Accuracy: 7.5
Total Driving efficiency: 9.25
Tee To Green
Irons: 9
Approach play: 8.5
On and around the green
Scrambling: 9
Lag Putting: 8.5
Holing out: 9
Par breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 8.5
Mentality: 9
Par 5 performance: 10
Overall: 9.08
Superpowers: Scares his opposition into submission. Only has half a swing. Only eats steaks.
Course fit: Lengthy tracks where a left to right shot shape is the go to
Examples: Liberty National, Riviera, Abu Dhabi GC. Torrey South, Earth Course. Scottsdale
PLAYER PROFILE: PATRICK REED
Gritty competitor who has divided the golf world with his antics. I’m a big fan and a player who has come good many times for Nicspicks. The hashtag #GetGreedyWithReedy was born after he won at 145/1 for Nicspicks readers. I tipped him to win at Humana in a birdie fest when he was a relative unknown in the golf betting world. This was largely due to his ability to shoot low in PGA Tour Qualifying events when he had no status. Plays with a right to left draw but recently has brought an efficient fade into the armoury. Short game and wind specialist. One of the best pitchers and chippers around. Also excelling with the short stick in 2020
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 7.5
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 7.65
Tee To Green
Irons: 9
Approach play: 8
On and around the green
Scrambling: 10
Lag Putting: 8
Holing out: 9
Par breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 9
Mentality: 10
Par 5 performance: 9
Overall: 8.97
Superpowers: Captain America. Ability to turn on style in most pressurised conditions. Loves competition at the highest level. Short game magician.
Course fit: Reed excels on the shorter courses with a bit of room off the tee but can easily compete on lengthy tracks aswell. Has a significant advantage on tracks that suit a right to left draw hence his Masters win at Augusta. TPC Boston. Chapultepec
PLAYER PROFILE: HIDEKI MATSUYAMA
If it were just down to tee to green, Hideki would be king. Working on reducing the length of the pause at the back of his swing at the transition. Equipped with towering drives (relatively straight flight / baby fade) and approaches, and probably the most accurate on tour in proximity to the hole longterm. Absolutely dire on the greens especially from holing out range. A rich man’s Keegan Bradley.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 9.5
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 9.05
Tee To Green
Irons: 10
Approach play: 10
On and around the green
Scrambling: 8.5
Lag Putting: 7
Holing out: 6
Par breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: n/a
Mentality: 8
Par 5 performance: 10
Overall: 8.73
Superpowers: Pretends not to speak English so he doesn’t have to talk to anyone.
Takes pins out like skittles. High standards on approach shots
Course fit: Traditional Parkland style tracks and or where proximity to the hole reigns supreme
Examples: Firestone, Quail Hollow, TPC Scottsdale, Muirfield Village, Zozo Narashina, Nine Bridges
PLAYER PROFILE: TOMMY FLEETWOOD
Tommy plays with a booming baby draw off the tee and loves a slight bit of right to left in the shot shape. Perfect for Augusta. Can hit it high and low and a strong wind player coming from the links near Liverpool. Tee to green efficiency is one of the best in the world. Very consistent player and will contend strongly on any track in the weeks when the flat stick heats up.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 9
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 8.7
Tee To Green
Irons: 9
Approach play: 8
On and around the green
Scrambling: 9
Lag Putting: 8
Holing out: 8
Par breakers: 8.5
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 9
Mentality: 8.5
Par 5 performance: 9
Overall: 8.57
Superpowers: Hair and beard like no other. Strong ability to not give a sh!t - there’s always next week
Course fit: Tracks where keeping it in play is key and favour a little right to left in the eyeline. Fine links exponent so if it blows it’s an advantage
Examples: ST. Andrews, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, Abu Dhabi GC, PGA National, Genzon
PLAYER PROFILE: G-MAC
Gmac deserted the island of Ireland and set up home at Nona Blue Tavern. His new business and new family caused a halt to his career after bagging the US Open at Pebble Beach and some heroics for the European Ryder cup side but now he’s back with 3 recent wins. Extremely gritty competitor especially when in contention. Usually splits a fairway in two, has an excellent short game excelling with the flat stick, and is one of the best wind links exponents in the game
.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 6
Driving Accuracy: 9
Total Driving efficiency: 6.9
Tee To Green
Irons: 8.5
Approach play: 7
On and around the green
Scrambling: 9
Lag Putting: 9
Holing out: 10
Par Breakers: 6
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 10
Mentality: 10
Par 5 performance: 6
Overall: 8.24
Superpowers: Can make the wind stop when it’s his shot. Made up his own accent.
Course fit: Absolute lover of link and links style and windy tests. Tight coastal layouts and tracks where serious grinding war of attrition style is needed
Examples - Carnoustie, Royal County Down / Portrush, Pebble Beach, El Camaleon, Royal Greens, Celtic Manor, Harbour Town, Le Golf National, Valderrama
PLAYER PROFILE: GARY WOODLAND
Ball Striker. Plays predominantly with a low fade off the tee and loves a track that sets up slightly left to right like Torrey Pines South. Excels in the shot shaping department with the irons and hits it high or low with ease. Wind specialist. Held the long time record for tiddlers holed but needs work in the holing out 5-20 feet department and on short game.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 10
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 9.4
Tee To Green
Irons: 10
Approach play: 8
On and around the green
Scrambling: 5
Lag Putting: 7.5
Holing out: 7
Par Breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 9
Mentality: 8
Par 5 performance: 10
Overall: 8.39
Superpowers: Possesses a stinger to rival Tiger Woods.
Course fit: Excels on ball strikers tracks and often shows up on windy / coastal venues and does lots of damage on par 5 tracks like Glen Abbey and Plantation
Examples: Torrey Pines, TPC Kuala Lumpur, Montreux, Kapalua, Glen Abbey
PLAYER PROFILE: EDDIE PEPPERELL
Twitter’s favourite golfer is playing a bit on both tours these days. Not a fan of the driver. Excels more in the short game department. One to watch on the links and has some serious form in the events around Great Britain and Ireland. A player who when his mind is on it could be a real dark horse in the majors. Wind positive.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 5
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 5.9
Tee To Green
Irons: 8
Approach play: 8
On and around the green
Scrambling: 8
Lag Putting: 9
Holing out: 8.5
Par Breakers: 8
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 8.5
Mentality: 7
Par 5 performance: 8
Overall: 7.89
Superpowers: Sarcasm. Cooks a mean potato. Dog Lover and Terry’s Chocolate Orange seducer
Course fit: Seems to love any track around the British isles. Old skool Parklands where a neat short game is required are a good fit. Also has an affinity with Oceanico Vilamoura
PLAYER PROFILE: KEVIN NA
Not long off the tee but gives it a whack and finds plenty of fairways. One of the elite short game exponents and putters and tends to excel repetitively on same tracks. Renowned for slow play but has really made improvements to that side of his game. A bit mad in general and a character.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 6
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 6.6
Tee To Green
Irons: 6
Approach play: 9
On and around the green
Scrambling: 10
Lag Putting: 9.5
Holing out: 9
Par Breakers: 9
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 8
Mentality: 5
Par 5 performance: 8
Overall: 8
Superpowers: Once racked up a 16 on a par 4. Invented a remedy for the swing yips. Can beat his ball into the hole.
Course fit: Colonial, TPC Summerlin. Riviera. Pebble. Has a good record on Florida swing. Look out for his course history and follow the trends. Any tracks with good putting surfaces
PLAYER PROFILE: GAVIN GREEN
Gavin is one of maybe 10 guys since I’ve been doing this that I’ve been absolutely mad keen on before their time....I haven’t been wrong yet. The reason is this - he has EVERYTHING in his game to not only rise to the top, but to eclipse those around him. Absolute destroyer of courses in his college and amateur development tour days with his power and short game ability. Also has a great head on his shoulders re course management. Moved on from his dad caddying for him to experienced pros
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 10
Driving Accuracy: 7.5
Total Driving efficiency: 9.25
Tee To Green
Irons: 8
Approach play: 8.5
On and around the green
Scrambling: 8.5
Lag Putting: 8
Holing out: 9
Par Breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 5
Mentality: 8
Par 5 performance: 10
Overall: 8.42
Superpowers: Needs to hit 3wood on some par 4s to prevent going through the green. Short game magic. Great name and primed for that jacket. Birdie blitzer. Irish descent
Course fit: Very strong at home and on resort type layouts like Albatross GC and Vilamoura. Could not find a track better suited to his game than Augusta - you heard it here first. Sheshan
PLAYER PROFILE: MARC LEISHMAN
The big Aussie goes down in my mind as the most underrated player in golf. A quiet and unassuming MR. nice guy who doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Competent in all departments of the game and a lover of tough courses where pars are the brief. Plays with a fade off the tee and is one of the better ball strikers on the tour. Solid short game. If it blows, keep an eye on Leishman. Tough tracks are his bread and butter hence regular appearances on major and big event leaderboards.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 8
Driving Accuracy: 6.5
Total Driving efficiency: 7.55
Tee To Green
Irons: 8
Approach play: 8
On and around the green
Scrambling: 8.5
Lag Putting: 7
Holing out: 9
Par breakers: 9
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 10
Mentality: 7
Par 5 performance: 9.5
Overall: 8.35
Superpowers: He “knows what he doesn’t know”
Course fit: Wind specialist who excels in fast and firm conditions. Any tougher tracks playing fast and firm, and if the wind is blowing it’s a bonus.
Examples: Torrey Pines, Australian sandbelt, Open Championship links course, Muirfield Village
My course fit profiling manual player profiles and ratings were born in early 2020 and are all about player game styles, strengths and weaknesses, personalities and tendencies, rather than the boring stuff
I've made selected player profiles available to view by copy and pasting them from my betting manual. The manual contains over 100 pages of course and player profiles in this respect. - read the full introduction and summary here
Excerpt from the profiling manual
PLAYER PROFILE: PATRICK CANTLAY
The Californian turned pro in 2012 after holding the world amateur no. 1 golf ranking for 54 weeks. A future world no. 1 in the pro ranks, Cantlay only has 2 PGA Tour wins to his name so far. This is due to a car accident which saw personal tragedy and delays to his progress. Cantlay is a player who excels in every department. He’s been through a lot and is intense when in contention - Tiger like, and not talking to anyone. Augusta National is the perfect course fit. Watch out.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 10
Driving Accuracy: 7
Total Driving efficiency: 9.1
Tee To Green
Long Irons: 9.5
Approach play: 9.5
On and around the green
Scrambling: 9
Lag Putting: 7
Holing out: 9
Par breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: n/a
Par 5 performance: 10
Mentality: 10
Overall: 9.23
Superpowers: Owns the towering high draw off the tee. Nerves and competitive nature. Par breaker machine. Silence.
Course fit: Cantlay’s overall game is so good, he can, and has, competed at all types of courses, but in particular, watch out for him on the championship courses, especially those that suit a right to left shot shape. Augusta, Quail Hollow, Muirfield Village (already won here)
PLAYER PROFILE: RORY McIlroy
The best player in the world when all the big guys are in their top form. A better driver of the ball has arguably never existed, with his stock high draw off the markers that carries forever. A massive strength of his game. Obliterates long parkland tree lined type tracks, especially ones with large raised greens, and in soft conditions. Distance control with the irons and wedges deserted him for a while but now they are back. Working on short game and putting with Brad Faxon has taken him up a level. Struggles on greens with stimp 12+
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 10
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 9.4
Tee To Green
Irons: 10
Approach play: 10
On and around the green
Scrambling: 10
Lag Putting: 8.5
Holing out: 8.5
Par breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Par 5 performance: 10
Wind play: 6.5
Mentality: 9
Overall: 9.19
Superpowers: Consistency. Big Stick. Conditioning. Great hair.
Course fit: Loves the big treelined courses like Congressional, Firestone, Muirfield and Quail Hollow where long and straight gets it done. Raised greens benefit his high towering approaches. If it’s a long, generous softish parklands championship track, Rory wins.
Examples: Augusta, Medinah, Quail Hollow, Firestone, Earth course Dubai, Sheshan, East Lake
PLAYER PROFILE: JUSTIN THOMAS
Tops the Nicspicks strength rankings and excels in all compartments of the game. Grew up playing with Jordan Spieth and owns the same mentality of wanting to win by as many as he can, whenever he can. Makes birdies and eagle streaks aplenty. Blue numbers everywhere. Known as pound for pound longest hitter in the game with one of the fastest swing speeds. Plays with a long towering baby fade off the tee and is as aggressive a player as they come
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 9.5
Driving Accuracy: 7
Total Driving efficiency: 8.75
Tee To Green
Irons: 10
Approach play: 10
On and around the green
Scrambling: 9.5
Lag Putting: 8
Holing out: 9.5
Par breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: n/a
Mentality: 9
Par 5 performance: 10
Overall: 9.42
Superpowers: Looks like Jordan Spieth. Likes to blitz fields and go for the jugular. Par breaker machine.
Course fit: Classic tracks where long and straight from the markers, and taking out the pins from approaches gets it done
Examples: Quail Hollow, TPC Scottsdale, Firestone. Has an affinity with Sedgefield
PLAYER PROFILE: JON RAHM
Feisty Spaniard took Patrick Cantlay’s record of most weeks as world no.1 amateur and now he’s out to do the same in the pro ranks. All rounder who can play any shot but prefers the power fade off the tips. Competitive nature and drive makes him a threat in any event. Only utilises a 3 quarter swing but can keep up with the longest. Gets a little heated on the track.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 10
Driving Accuracy: 7.5
Total Driving efficiency: 9.25
Tee To Green
Irons: 9
Approach play: 8.5
On and around the green
Scrambling: 9
Lag Putting: 8.5
Holing out: 9
Par breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 8.5
Mentality: 9
Par 5 performance: 10
Overall: 9.08
Superpowers: Scares his opposition into submission. Only has half a swing. Only eats steaks.
Course fit: Lengthy tracks where a left to right shot shape is the go to
Examples: Liberty National, Riviera, Abu Dhabi GC. Torrey South, Earth Course. Scottsdale
PLAYER PROFILE: PATRICK REED
Gritty competitor who has divided the golf world with his antics. I’m a big fan and a player who has come good many times for Nicspicks. The hashtag #GetGreedyWithReedy was born after he won at 145/1 for Nicspicks readers. I tipped him to win at Humana in a birdie fest when he was a relative unknown in the golf betting world. This was largely due to his ability to shoot low in PGA Tour Qualifying events when he had no status. Plays with a right to left draw but recently has brought an efficient fade into the armoury. Short game and wind specialist. One of the best pitchers and chippers around. Also excelling with the short stick in 2020
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 7.5
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 7.65
Tee To Green
Irons: 9
Approach play: 8
On and around the green
Scrambling: 10
Lag Putting: 8
Holing out: 9
Par breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 9
Mentality: 10
Par 5 performance: 9
Overall: 8.97
Superpowers: Captain America. Ability to turn on style in most pressurised conditions. Loves competition at the highest level. Short game magician.
Course fit: Reed excels on the shorter courses with a bit of room off the tee but can easily compete on lengthy tracks aswell. Has a significant advantage on tracks that suit a right to left draw hence his Masters win at Augusta. TPC Boston. Chapultepec
PLAYER PROFILE: HIDEKI MATSUYAMA
If it were just down to tee to green, Hideki would be king. Working on reducing the length of the pause at the back of his swing at the transition. Equipped with towering drives (relatively straight flight / baby fade) and approaches, and probably the most accurate on tour in proximity to the hole longterm. Absolutely dire on the greens especially from holing out range. A rich man’s Keegan Bradley.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 9.5
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 9.05
Tee To Green
Irons: 10
Approach play: 10
On and around the green
Scrambling: 8.5
Lag Putting: 7
Holing out: 6
Par breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: n/a
Mentality: 8
Par 5 performance: 10
Overall: 8.73
Superpowers: Pretends not to speak English so he doesn’t have to talk to anyone.
Takes pins out like skittles. High standards on approach shots
Course fit: Traditional Parkland style tracks and or where proximity to the hole reigns supreme
Examples: Firestone, Quail Hollow, TPC Scottsdale, Muirfield Village, Zozo Narashina, Nine Bridges
PLAYER PROFILE: TOMMY FLEETWOOD
Tommy plays with a booming baby draw off the tee and loves a slight bit of right to left in the shot shape. Perfect for Augusta. Can hit it high and low and a strong wind player coming from the links near Liverpool. Tee to green efficiency is one of the best in the world. Very consistent player and will contend strongly on any track in the weeks when the flat stick heats up.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 9
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 8.7
Tee To Green
Irons: 9
Approach play: 8
On and around the green
Scrambling: 9
Lag Putting: 8
Holing out: 8
Par breakers: 8.5
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 9
Mentality: 8.5
Par 5 performance: 9
Overall: 8.57
Superpowers: Hair and beard like no other. Strong ability to not give a sh!t - there’s always next week
Course fit: Tracks where keeping it in play is key and favour a little right to left in the eyeline. Fine links exponent so if it blows it’s an advantage
Examples: ST. Andrews, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, Abu Dhabi GC, PGA National, Genzon
PLAYER PROFILE: G-MAC
Gmac deserted the island of Ireland and set up home at Nona Blue Tavern. His new business and new family caused a halt to his career after bagging the US Open at Pebble Beach and some heroics for the European Ryder cup side but now he’s back with 3 recent wins. Extremely gritty competitor especially when in contention. Usually splits a fairway in two, has an excellent short game excelling with the flat stick, and is one of the best wind links exponents in the game
.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 6
Driving Accuracy: 9
Total Driving efficiency: 6.9
Tee To Green
Irons: 8.5
Approach play: 7
On and around the green
Scrambling: 9
Lag Putting: 9
Holing out: 10
Par Breakers: 6
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 10
Mentality: 10
Par 5 performance: 6
Overall: 8.24
Superpowers: Can make the wind stop when it’s his shot. Made up his own accent.
Course fit: Absolute lover of link and links style and windy tests. Tight coastal layouts and tracks where serious grinding war of attrition style is needed
Examples - Carnoustie, Royal County Down / Portrush, Pebble Beach, El Camaleon, Royal Greens, Celtic Manor, Harbour Town, Le Golf National, Valderrama
PLAYER PROFILE: GARY WOODLAND
Ball Striker. Plays predominantly with a low fade off the tee and loves a track that sets up slightly left to right like Torrey Pines South. Excels in the shot shaping department with the irons and hits it high or low with ease. Wind specialist. Held the long time record for tiddlers holed but needs work in the holing out 5-20 feet department and on short game.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 10
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 9.4
Tee To Green
Irons: 10
Approach play: 8
On and around the green
Scrambling: 5
Lag Putting: 7.5
Holing out: 7
Par Breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 9
Mentality: 8
Par 5 performance: 10
Overall: 8.39
Superpowers: Possesses a stinger to rival Tiger Woods.
Course fit: Excels on ball strikers tracks and often shows up on windy / coastal venues and does lots of damage on par 5 tracks like Glen Abbey and Plantation
Examples: Torrey Pines, TPC Kuala Lumpur, Montreux, Kapalua, Glen Abbey
PLAYER PROFILE: EDDIE PEPPERELL
Twitter’s favourite golfer is playing a bit on both tours these days. Not a fan of the driver. Excels more in the short game department. One to watch on the links and has some serious form in the events around Great Britain and Ireland. A player who when his mind is on it could be a real dark horse in the majors. Wind positive.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 5
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 5.9
Tee To Green
Irons: 8
Approach play: 8
On and around the green
Scrambling: 8
Lag Putting: 9
Holing out: 8.5
Par Breakers: 8
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 8.5
Mentality: 7
Par 5 performance: 8
Overall: 7.89
Superpowers: Sarcasm. Cooks a mean potato. Dog Lover and Terry’s Chocolate Orange seducer
Course fit: Seems to love any track around the British isles. Old skool Parklands where a neat short game is required are a good fit. Also has an affinity with Oceanico Vilamoura
PLAYER PROFILE: KEVIN NA
Not long off the tee but gives it a whack and finds plenty of fairways. One of the elite short game exponents and putters and tends to excel repetitively on same tracks. Renowned for slow play but has really made improvements to that side of his game. A bit mad in general and a character.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 6
Driving Accuracy: 8
Total Driving efficiency: 6.6
Tee To Green
Irons: 6
Approach play: 9
On and around the green
Scrambling: 10
Lag Putting: 9.5
Holing out: 9
Par Breakers: 9
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 8
Mentality: 5
Par 5 performance: 8
Overall: 8
Superpowers: Once racked up a 16 on a par 4. Invented a remedy for the swing yips. Can beat his ball into the hole.
Course fit: Colonial, TPC Summerlin. Riviera. Pebble. Has a good record on Florida swing. Look out for his course history and follow the trends. Any tracks with good putting surfaces
PLAYER PROFILE: GAVIN GREEN
Gavin is one of maybe 10 guys since I’ve been doing this that I’ve been absolutely mad keen on before their time....I haven’t been wrong yet. The reason is this - he has EVERYTHING in his game to not only rise to the top, but to eclipse those around him. Absolute destroyer of courses in his college and amateur development tour days with his power and short game ability. Also has a great head on his shoulders re course management. Moved on from his dad caddying for him to experienced pros
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 10
Driving Accuracy: 7.5
Total Driving efficiency: 9.25
Tee To Green
Irons: 8
Approach play: 8.5
On and around the green
Scrambling: 8.5
Lag Putting: 8
Holing out: 9
Par Breakers: 10
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 5
Mentality: 8
Par 5 performance: 10
Overall: 8.42
Superpowers: Needs to hit 3wood on some par 4s to prevent going through the green. Short game magic. Great name and primed for that jacket. Birdie blitzer. Irish descent
Course fit: Very strong at home and on resort type layouts like Albatross GC and Vilamoura. Could not find a track better suited to his game than Augusta - you heard it here first. Sheshan
PLAYER PROFILE: MARC LEISHMAN
The big Aussie goes down in my mind as the most underrated player in golf. A quiet and unassuming MR. nice guy who doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Competent in all departments of the game and a lover of tough courses where pars are the brief. Plays with a fade off the tee and is one of the better ball strikers on the tour. Solid short game. If it blows, keep an eye on Leishman. Tough tracks are his bread and butter hence regular appearances on major and big event leaderboards.
Strengths and weaknesses (rankings out of 10)
Off The Tee
Driving Distance: 8
Driving Accuracy: 6.5
Total Driving efficiency: 7.55
Tee To Green
Irons: 8
Approach play: 8
On and around the green
Scrambling: 8.5
Lag Putting: 7
Holing out: 9
Par breakers: 9
Miscellaneous
Wind play: 10
Mentality: 7
Par 5 performance: 9.5
Overall: 8.35
Superpowers: He “knows what he doesn’t know”
Course fit: Wind specialist who excels in fast and firm conditions. Any tougher tracks playing fast and firm, and if the wind is blowing it’s a bonus.
Examples: Torrey Pines, Australian sandbelt, Open Championship links course, Muirfield Village
My course fit profiling manual player profiles and ratings were born in early 2020 and are all about player game styles, strengths and weaknesses, personalities and tendencies, rather than the boring stuff
I've made selected player profiles available to view by copy and pasting them from my betting manual. The manual contains over 100 pages of course and player profiles in this respect. - read the full introduction and summary here
Excerpt from the profiling manual
