2012 - Week 43 Predictions/Statistics Online

The predictions and statistics for this week, the WGC - HSBC Champions (European/US PGA Tour) are now available on Golf Predictor. Just the one tournament this week and even though some of the bigger stars aren't playing (e.g. Tiger and Rory, who couldn't hang around after their Chinese junket today!), there is still a strong field for the last WGC of the season in China.

2012 - Week 42 Winners

Peter Hanson (ranked 9th by Golf Predictor) won the BMW Masters on the European PGA Tour. The 35 year old Swede won his second event of the season by holding off Rory McIlroy in Shanghai. McIlroy was our top ranked player and we had nine of the top fourteen plus ties (9/15) in total. 

Nick Watney (ranked 4th by Golf Predictor) won the CIMB Classic on the US PGA Tour. The 31 year old American flirted with a 59, before bogeying the last for a 61 and a one shot victory. Our top ranked player, Tiger Woods, also finished strongly with a 63 for tied 4th and we had seven of the top ten plus ties (7/13) overall in the restricted field event. 

New 'Field Ranking' Chart and Stat Added to 'Golfer Prediction' Page

General Statistics panel for Bo Van Pelt (2012 CIMB Classic) showing new 'Average Field Rank' stat and new field rank chart link.

New field rank chart for Bo Van Pelt (2012 CIMB Classic) showing average in intro text.

A new stat and related pop-up chart has been added to the golfer 'Prediction' page on Golf Predictor. The new stat is located in the General panel (see first screenshot above for Bo Van Pelt ahead of the 2012 CIMB Classic) and is the average of the golfer field rankings in the following areas:

1. Average for the current season
2. Average in previous five events in the current season
3. Average on same course in the previous five years
4. Average in same tournament in the previous five years
5. Average in previous twelve similar events (reg./major/WGC/FedEx Cup)
6. World ranking
7. Average in similar weather in the previous five years

These seven field rankings are already on the golfer 'Prediction' page in the relevant stats panels. However, this new average gives an overall measure of the each golfer's standing. Clicking on the new chart link beside this new stat brings up the new Field Rankings chart. This conveniently shows all seven field rankings together in graphical format and is shown in the second screenshot above (also for Bo Van Pelt ahead of the 2012 CIMB Classic). The average field ranking is also shown on this chart and hovering over a bar shows more information. This new chart is very useful for seeing a golfer's ranking for a tournament in the various metrics at a glance

This brings the total number of charts on the site to 327. The new field ranking average stat and chart is available to all users, although only for the golfers you are permitted to view (all golfers for subscribers, those ranked 11-25 for non-subscribers). So, sign up today to get the most out of Golf Predictor, the premier US and European PGA Tour statistics site.

2012 - Week 42 Predictions/Statistics Online

The predictions and statistics for this week, the BMW Masters (European PGA Tour) and the CIMB Classic (US PGA Tour), are now available on Golf Predictor. It's the second week in a row that the European Tour gets a new tournament as it moves on to its third continent in as many weeks. This week, they decamp to China where they are sanctioning a tournament that actually began last year. An awful lot of golf fans must buy BMWs as the German car maker is once again the title sponsor of a golf tournament! The US PGA Tour is also in Asia for the next two weeks, starting with the Malaysian event this week, which boasts Tiger Woods for the first time. The other four of the world's top five are playing in China, so there should be some good golf this week.

2012 - Week 41 Winners

Bo Van Pelt (ranked 2nd by Golf Predictor) won the ISPS HANDA Perth International on the European PGA Tour. The 37 year old American made the most of the long trip to Australia by holding off his compatriot Jason Dufner on the final day. The runner up was our top ranked player and we had nine of the top seventeen plus ties (9/18) in total. 

Tommy Gainey (ranked 60th by Golf Predictor) won The McGladrey Classic on the US PGA Tour. The 37 year old American won his first PGA Tour title in almost spectacular fashion, missing a 59 by inches at the last. Still, "Two Gloves" will happily take second prize, I'd wager! Our top ranked player, Zach Johnson, finished in 49th and we had twelve of the top twenty plus ties (12/26) overall.

Cookies and Golf Predictor

In order to comply with EU regulations on cookies introduced this year (2012), the Privacy page on Golf Predictor has been updated to describe the limited use of cookies on the site. Basically, Golf Predictor itself does not use cookies explicitly for any reason, let alone user tracking. However, cookies are used on the site by Google Analytics to analyse incoming traffic anonymously and by the ASP.NET Membership provider to manage user sessions.

To accommodate this change, The "Privacy Statement" menu option on Golf Predictor has been renamed to "Privacy/Cookies".

2012 - Week 41 Predictions/Statistics Online

The predictions and statistics for this week, the ISPS HANDA Perth International (European PGA Tour) and The McGladrey Classic (US PGA Tour), are now available on Golf Predictor. The European Tour returns to Australia and quite a few players are making the long trek from Portugal to Perth to join the other (mostly local) competitors in this new event. Meanwhile, there are not many current big names in Georgia as the season winds down, but there are a number of former major champions from yesteryear in the field!

2012 - Week 40 Winners

Shane Lowry (ranked 20th by Golf Predictor) won the Portugal Masters on the European PGA Tour. The 25 year old Irishman finally added to his European Tour win as an amateur three years ago when Ross Fisher bogeyed the final hole. Lowry now joins Pablo Martin as the only players to win on tour as both an amateur and a professional and I was lucky enough to cheer him on for a while in person! Our top ranked player, Francesco Molinari, finished in tied 16th and we had twelve of the top sixteen plus ties (12/26) in total. 

Jonas Blixt (ranked 15th by Golf Predictor) won the Frys.com Open on the US PGA Tour. The 28 year old Swede capped a fine rookie season by winning his maiden tour victory by one shot. Our top ranked player, Ernie Els, finished in tied 16th after a long dash from Scotland. In a week where a lot of lesser lights performed well, we had about six of the top sixteen plus ties (6/21) overall*.  


* There were a number of no-shows, thus promoting Howell III into top 21 in the GP rankings

2012 - Week 40 Predictions/Statistics Online

The predictions and statistics for this week, the Frys.com Open (US PGA Tour) and the Portugal Masters (European PGA Tour) are now available on Golf Predictor. The fields for either event this week isn't great as the big names (particularly in the US) wind down for the season and headliner Els has dashed across to California from Scotland for the US event. However, I will be on-site to run the rule over some of the competitors this week in Portugal!

2012 - Week 39 Winners

Branden Grace (ranked 35th by Golf Predictor) won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the European PGA Tour. The 24 year old South African won his fourth tournament of the season by leading from start to finish in Scotland. Opening with 60 (-12) is always a good way to start a tournament! Our top ranked player, Louis Oosthuizen, finished in tied 79th and in a catastrophic tournament for the bigger names, we had just one of the top 15 plus ties (1/21)! That's the worst performance of the system ever, by a large margin. It's very unusual for all the big names to bomb at the same event; the bookies must have had a great week!

Ryan Moore (ranked 4th by Golf Predictor) won the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on the US PGA Tour. The 29 year old American won his second tour title by also starting fast (61) and holding on. Our top ranked player, Nick Watney, finished in 10th and we had eight of the top thirteen plus ties (8/21) overall*. 


*Kyle Stanley was a no-show, so Jimmy Walker gets promoted into the top 21 in the rankings.

Golf Predictor on Tour 2012!

Golf Predictor is going on tour again! This year, I shall be attending the Portugal Masters next week, bedecked once again in the finest Golf Predictor livery! I hope to have some interaction with the pros like I did on my Moroccan trip last year.

Although I'm flying out over the weekend, I'm not expecting any problems running next week's predictions from a different country. However, there is always the chance that it will not be possible for some unforeseen reason. If that happens, I shall update the system on my return and add a week to every paying member's subscription. I shall also probably be taking a break from Twitter for a week or so, but look forward to resuming posting on my return.

Golf Predictor Subscription Rate Amendment

The new subscriptions for Golf Predictor last March have been amended due to an error. The new six month rate was set at €43.99, which was actually one cent dearer than two three month subscriptions! The new six month rate should have been €41.99, which it has now been set to. This should make it somewhat more appealing for users! Apologies for any confusion caused.

2012 - Week 39 Predictions/Statistics Online

The predictions and statistics for this week, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (European PGA Tour) and the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (US PGA Tour), are now available on Golf Predictor. It's the start of the Fall Series on the US PGA Tour, so there aren't a lot of big names teeing it up after the excitement of the FedEx Cup play-offs and the Ryder Cup. It's slightly better in Scotland, where four of the Ryder Cup stars (including the American Dustin Johnson) are teeing it up with the celebrities!