For the longest time, driving distance on professional golf tours has been a big talking point. Hardly a day goes by without a debate springing up on Twitter. So just how have things changed over time?
When it comes to you and your amateur buddies, it’s safe to say some of you have been the butt of numerous jokes told in and around clubhouses.
Given the fact that the longest hitter on the PGA Tour in 2021, Bryson DeChambeau, recently announced he has accepted an invitation to participate in the Professional Long Drivers Association World Championship next month in Nevada, USA, we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane and see just how much further the ball travels since the PGA Tour and LPGA started capturing distance stats back in 1981 and 2000 respectively.
PGA Tour
|
YEAR |
LEADER |
DISTANCE |
TOUR AVG. |
|
1981 |
Dan Pohl |
280.1 |
259.3 |
|
1991 |
John Daly |
288.9 |
260.7 |
|
2001 |
John Daly |
306.7 |
278.8 |
|
2011 |
J.B Holmes |
318.4 |
290.9 |
|
2021 |
Bryson DeChambeau |
321.7 |
295.9 |
LPGA
|
YEAR |
LEADER |
DISTANCE |
TOUR AVG. |
|
2001 |
Wendy Doolan |
265.9 |
232.4 |
|
2011 |
Yani Tseng |
269.2 |
240.3 |
|
2021 |
Anne van Dam |
291.9 |
259.7 |
There are several factors to consider when attempting to quantify why driving distance is increasing so dramatically year-on-year: the athleticism of today’s professional golfers is light years away from your typical PGA Tour professional in the 1980’s and 1990’s; and more noticeably, the technological advances and improvement in golf equipment, especially the golf ball.
When researching the average driving distance for amateur golfers, a report by Arccos Golf shows how far the average male golfer hits their driver at various age levels, based on their skill level as well as their ability to find the middle of the clubface with greater regularity.
Take a look at the data below and see how you compare based on the average:
|
Age |
Scratch |
12 Handicap |
24 Handicap |
|
25 |
271 |
233 |
208 |
|
35 |
267 |
230 |
206 |
|
45 |
260 |
224 |
201 |
|
55 |
251 |
215 |
192 |
|
65 |
238 |
202 |
180 |
*All distance numbers are total distance, not carry, and measured in yards
The average yardage off the tee for all female golfers stands at 146 yards, whereas those with a handicap of 6 or better averaged 195 yards and more off the tee.
Photo: Getty Images
