REVEALED: The most VALUABLE golf swings of the PGA Tour season

On the eve of this week's US Open at Winged Foot in New York, our friends at Spreadex have taken a closer look at who had the most valuable swings on the 2019/20 PGA Tour.

By breaking down the total number of shots across every PGA Tour event a golfer has played in, and their total winnings across said events during the somewhat depleted schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic, Spreadex have come up with a cool ‘Money per Swing’ metric...

The top three should come as no surprise with World No.1 and FedEx Cup champion Dustin Johnson on top, followed by World No.3 Justin Thomas and World No.2 Jon Rahm.

Rory McIlroy is a bit further down in seventh spot, with a rejuvenated Tiger Woods back in 11th. 

There are some big-name absenties from the top 20, however, with a struggling Jordan Spieth earning just $289.09 per swing across 19 events placing him in 72nd position.

Phil Mickelson, who is bidding to make one punter more than $3 million richer should he complete the career Grand Slam this week, picked up $445.65 per swing over 17 appearances leaving him in 44th spot, with former US Open champion Justin Rose back in 50th place with $413.35 per shot over 15 events.

So, which PGA golfers have the most valuable swings when it's all broken down? Let's take a look at the top 20, as well as the full rankings for the top 100. 

1. Dustin Johnson – $6,168.52 per swing

No golfer came close to Johnson in 2019/20. Racking up an astonishing $20,837,267 in winnings over 14 PGA Tour events and 3,378 shots, the World No.1 averaged $6,168.52 every time he swung a golf club. 

DJ won three events on the PGA Tour in 2020 – the Travelers Championship, The Northern Trust and the Tour Championship – and secured a mega $15 million payday thanks to his first FedEx Cup victory.

Johnson is also favourite to win his second US Open this week with fixed odds of 15/2 and a Leaderboard Index spread of 14-17. That’s where first place gets 80 points, second place 40, third place 30, fourth place 25, fifth place 20, sixth place 15, seventh place 10 and eighth place 5. 

2. Justin Thomas – $2,491.49 per swing

Despite finishing some way behind Johnson in this particular metric as a result of Johnson's FedEx Cup triumph, Thomas was actually the 2019/20 PGA Tour's money leader.

JT also equalled DJ’s number of wins on the PGA Tour in 2020 - The CJ Cup, Sentry Tournament of Champions and WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

That translated to winnings of $11,991,540 over 19 events and 4,813 shots – or $2,491.49 per swing.

3. Jon Rahm – $2,196.11 per swing

Narrowly behind in third is Rahm who comes in with a swing worth $2,196.11, in part down to his wins at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio, and the BMW Championship in Illinois.

When it comes to the odds at the US Open, the Spaniard, who is bidding to win his maiden major title, has a Leaderboard Index spread of 14-17 compared to Thomas' 10-13.

4. Xander Schauffele – $1,648.47 per swing

With significantly more shots than the top three - 5,113 over 19 events - Schauffele nevertheless makes the top four in this list down to finishing joint second in the FedEx Cup.

The American's overall winnings of $8,428,637 leaves him at $1,648.47 per swing. 

Another player seeking a first major title this week, Schauffele ranks among the favourites for the US Open at a respectable Leaderboard Index spread of 9-12.

5. Tyrrell Hatton - $1,632.15 per swing

Only $16 or so behind Schauffele, Arnold Palmer Invitational winner Tyrrell Hatton rounds out the top five with a swing worth $1,632.15.

Despite playing in significantly fewer events than some players on the PGA Tour in 2019/20, the Englishman went on to finish seventh in the FedEx Cup standings. 

Hatton is another player who will feel a maiden major title is within touching distance. 

6. Webb Simpson – $1,543.26 per swing

One of the PGA Tour's most consistent players of the season, former US Open winner Simpson won both the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the RBC Heritage in South Carolina in 2020.

The steady American managed $1,543.26 per swing on the PGA Tour in 2019/20. 

7. Rory McIlroy – $1,287.88 per swing

Not his finest season to date but Northern Ireland’s own still saw winnings of $5,428,414 in 2019/20 and won his sole title at the WGC-HSBC Champions event in China.

That puts McIlroy on $1,287.88 per swing over his 16 PGA Tour appearances.

As for the US Open, the 2011 winner is chasing his first major since 2014 and is at a Leaderboard Index spread of 8-11.

8. Collin Morikawa – $1,287.74 per swing

At just 23 years old, Morikawa etched his name in the record books with victory at the PGA Championship and also won the Workday Charity Open.

The talented American, who is bidding for back-to-back majors this week, helped himself to $1,287.74 per swing.

9. Bryson Dechambeau – $1,277.68 per swing

DeChambeau has packed on the pounds and dramatically increased his ball speed and clubhead figures, taking his game to new heights in 2020.

The wins may have been few and far between for the Mad Scientist, with just one victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Michigan, but there is no question that DeChambeau is a force to be reckoned with every week he tees it up these days. 

DeChambeau averaged $1,277.68 per shot on the PGA Tour in 2019/20 and he is another player who is counting down the days until he wins a first major title. Will it be this week? He certainly fancies his chances. 

10. Daniel Berger – $1,140.57 per swing

Victor in golf's first tournament back during the lockdown at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas, Berger takes the final spot in the top 10 with a swing worth $1,140.57.

The American has proven one of the most consistent performers on the PGA Tour in recent months, and is another ready to break his major duck. 

11. Tiger Woods – $1,063.81 per swing

In a season that saw Woods land his 82nd PGA Tour title – putting him level with Sam Snead for most career tour wins – Woods just missed out on the top 10 in this metric with $1,063.81 per swing.

Heading into the US Open, the three-time champion is at a Leaderboard Index spread of just 3-5. 

12. Patrick Reed – $1,009.63 per swing 

Taking the WGC-Mexico Championship back in February, the 30-year old Texan managed $1,009.63 per swing over 21 PGA Tour events.

Reed is bidding to win his second career major title this week following his Masters triumph in 2018. 

13. Adam Scott – $923.10 per swing

Triumphant at February’s Genesis Invitational in California, the Australian is the first player in top 20 to drop under the $1,000 per swing mark on $923.10.

Scott, like Reed, is looking for his second major title having also won The Masters in 2013. 

14. Henrik Stenson – $913.85 per swing

The first person on this list not to win a PGA Tour event in 2019/20, Stenson nevertheless bagged himself $923.85 per swing in just six appearances.

The Swede is another bidding for a second major title this week having won The Open in 2016.

15. Hideki Matsuyama – $819.73 per swing

Another winless golfer on this list in 2019/20, Matsuyama still took home a solid $819.73 per swing in 2019/20.

The Japanese star is still seeking his first major title, but it will surely happen sooner rather than later. 

16. Marc Leishman – $809.29 per swing

Leading the pack at the Farmers Insurance Open in California all the way back in January, Leishman secured himself $809.29 per swing.

The Australian, once considered by Jordan Spieth as the most underrated player in the world, is still looking to shed his winless major tag. 

17. Sungjae Im – $778.07 per swing

Im played more golf than anyone in the top 20, and he collected his maiden PGA Tour title at the Honda Classic earlier this year.

The steady South Korean player, another player seeking a first major, helped himself to $778.07 per swing. 

18. Harris English – $757.87 per swing

With 5,254 shots over 20 events, totalling winnings of $3,981,866, English came away from 2019/20 on $757.87 per swing.

The American has been playing some great golf of late and will certainly fancy his chances of surprising a few of the bigger names at the US Open. 

19. Paul Waring – $725.84 per swing

A slight asterisk should probably go alongside Waring's name on this one given he made just one Tour appearance where he earned himself $725.84 per swing following his tied eighth finish in the WGC-HSBC Champions in China at the back end of last year. 

The English journeyman pro typically plays his golf on the European Tour. 

20. Patrick Cantlay – $690.55 per swing

Cantlay takes the 20th spot in this metric after swinging himself to $690.55 per shot over his 14 PGA Tour appearances in 2019.20. 

The American is considered one of the best young talents on the PGA Tour right now and will surely bag himself a first major very soon.

Click here to see the full top 100 players