Phil Mickelson makes SARCASTIC green books comment after PGA Tour putting stat
More putts were holed on the PGA Tour in 2004 than in 2021 - Mickelson hits out on Twitter and then Donald fires back.
You might think that with all the technological advances in the game of golf today that putting statistics on the PGA Tour would be vastly different to what they were back in 2004.
Well, not exactly.
Why are people putting these? pic.twitter.com/fZBNgfDDxq
— Club Pro Guy (@ClubProGuy) December 28, 2021
Golf Channel yesterday posted an incredible graphic about PGA Tour putts holed in 2004 vs 2021, and it was then reposted on Twitter by @ClubProGuy, which is when Phil Mickelson got involved.
As you can see from the graphic above, less percentage of putts were holed by players on the PGA Tour in 2021 from 4-8 feet, 10-15 feet, 15-20 feet, 20-25 feet and over 25 feet when compared to 17 years previous on the circuit.
Mickelson then hit out on Twitter, referring to green books, which he has dabbled with in the past.
Two years ago, Lefty said in an interview: "For anyone to say they slow up play is flat out idiotic."
The PGA Tour will now adopt a local rule officially restricting the usage of green and yardage books beginning in early 2022.
I see why the greens books were banned. Crazy how many more putts are made now
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) December 28, 2021
Mickelson therefore could not help himself on Twitter this week when seeing that less putts were being holed in 2021.
"I see why the greens books were banned. Crazy how many more putts are made now," tweeted Mickelson, who has over 800,000 followers on the social media platform.
Former World No.1 Luke Donald then hit back at the six-time major champion, marking the second time the pair have exchanged words on Twitter about the topic.
RELATED: MICKELSON ROASTS DONALD OVER THE TOPIC OF GREEN READING BOOKS AND SLOW PLAY
When stats can be misleading. 2004 was an outlier year. Look at stats from 2005 to 2021 and you’ll clearly see the trend of increasing one putt percentages makes per @MarkBroadie
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) December 28, 2021
Donald tweeted: "When stats can be misleading. 2004 was an outlier year. Look at stats from 2005 to 2021 and you’ll clearly see the trend of increasing one putt percentages makes per @MarkBroadie."
According to stats man Mark Broadie, "from 2006 to 2021 the one-putt percentage on 5-foot putts increased 2%, from about 73.5% to 75.5%."
From 2006 to 2021 the one-putt percentage on 5-foot putts increased 2%, from about 73.5% to 75.5%. Similar increasing one-putt trends happen for other initial putt distances. pic.twitter.com/xfgk8BL3qn
— Mark Broadie (@MarkBroadie) December 28, 2021
Therefore you could argue putting has improved to some extent over the past 15 years on the PGA Tour.
