Predictions Updated with Non-finishing Players Round Data

Another ramification of the recent changes in policy for handling scores for non-finishers (see here and here) was that some statistics were rendered incorrect on golfer 'Prediction Data' pages. Originally Golf Predictor did not include the round scores for players who had withdrew or been disqualified from a tournament. However, since we included such scores, scoring averages, round counts and round averages became slightly incorrect for golfers who had not finished related tournaments (e.g. events earlier in the same season or in the same event in previous years).

Therefore, we have updated all tournament prediction records since Golf Predictor began to correct these slight issues. We have also added a round counter on the 'Prediction Data' page for each golfer to display the number of first rounds played in similar tournaments (a number less than or equal to twelve, the maximum amount of similar tournaments that we analyse for a golfer). These should be the final tweaks because of the policy change and ensures that Golf Predictor is even more accurate than ever before!

2009 - Week 31 Predictions

We have published the predictions for week 31, the AT&T National (US PGA Tour) and the Open de France Alstom (European PGA Tour). A good quality field has entered the US event, hosted as ever by the Tiger himself. The Open de France has always been one of the strongest events on the European PGA Tour so it to boasts a strong field, with six major winners amongst the competitors.

The list of pre-2004 champions in the Open de France Alstom (Golf Predictor uses the results from the previous 5 years) includes Philip Golding (2003), Malcolm MacKenzie (2002), Jose Maria Olazabal (2001), Colin Montgomerie (2000), Paul Broadhurst (1995), Miguel Angel Martin (1992) and Eduardo Romero (1991). There is no corresponding list for the AT&T National as it is only in its third year.

2009 - Week 30 Winners

Despite a blistering finish from Rafa Echenique, Nick Dougherty (ranked 17th by Golf Predictor) won the BMW International Open on the European PGA Tour. Echenique came home in a record equalling 27 (including an albatross from 243 yards out at the last), but had to settle for second as Dougherty safely negotiated the last three holes to win by a shot. Our top ranked player, Henrik Stenson, finished in a tie for 35th place and we had seven of the top nineteen plus ties (7/20).

On the US PGA Tour, nice guy Kenny Perry went some way to putting his Masters disappointment behind him with a three shot win at Travelers Championship. Perry (ranked 1st by Golf Predictor) finished strongly with a 63 (-7) for a record breaking 258 total (-22). In a good tournament for Golf Predictor, including forecasting the winner, we had six of the top eleven plus ties (6/13).

More Statistics for Non-finishing Players

Further to the recent post on the change in policy for handling scores for non-finishers, we have updated the rounds played and scoring average statistics for such golfers. Originally Golf Predictor did not include the round scores for players who had withdrew or been disqualified from a tournament. However, since we started including such scores, it became apparent that the rounds played and scoring average needed to be calculated for these golfers also.

In addition, these newly recorded rounds meant that the scoring averages for all players in tournaments with non-finishers (who played at least one round) were slightly inaccurate. Therefore, we have updated all tournament results since 2003 again to correct these slight issues.

Travelers Championship - Memorable Moments

Here are the memorable moments for this week's Travelers Championship (covered by Golf Predictor). These moments include another sudden death defeat for Greg Norman (plus a bounce back the following year), a victory by local boy J.J. Henry, repeat wins for Phil and a maiden triumph for Hunter Mahan after a tremendous approach in the play-off.

2009 - Week 30 Prediction Update (BMW International Open)

After his exploits in the US Open, Ross Fisher has withdrawn from the BMW International Open. Fisher was ranked third but we have now removed him from the predictions for this tournament on Golf Predictor and re-ranked the field. There has been no other change to the rankings.

The up to date predictions are now available on the site. Note that you may have to refresh/reload the page to see the change.

2009 - Week 30 Predictions

We have published the predictions for week 30, the Travelers Championship (US PGA Tour) and the BMW International Open (European PGA Tour). For the European event, some players have had to leg it across the Atlantic to Germany after the late finish to the US Open, so that might have to be factored in to your decisions. In the US, the players just had the short trip from Long Island, New York to Cromwell, Connecticut to contend with.

The list of pre-2004 champions in the Travelers Championship (Golf Predictor uses the results from the previous 5 years) includes Notah Begay III (2000), Brent Geiberger (1999), Olin Browne (1998) and Stewart Cink (1997). The corresponding list for the BMW International Open comprises of Colin Montgomerie (1999) and Marc Farry (1996).

2009 - Week 29 Winners

Lucas Glover (ranked 57th by Golf Predictor) took advantage of a meltdown by Ricky Barnes to win the protracted 109th US Open at Bethpage Black in New York. Co-leading with Barnes at the start of play today, a 73 was good enough for Glover to grab his first major as Barnes leaked shot after shot. In an exciting final day's play, both Phil Mickelson and David Duval had great chances to make fairytale endings. However, both finished poorly to leave Glover under no real pressure to secure the title on the eighteenth. Our top pick, Tiger Woods, never really recovered from a sloppy finish to his opening round but still managed to finish tied sixth. In a tournament heavily disrupted by the weather, we had four of the top ten plus ties (4/15).

On the European PGA Tour, Christian Nilsson (ranked 15th by Golf Predictor) comfortably closed out the lottery that is the weak fielded Saint Omer Open presented by Neuflize OBC with a blemish free 69 for a two shot victory. Our top ranked player, Robert Coles, finished poorly with an 80 to tie for 75th place and we had four of the top fifteen plus ties (4/22).

US Open Delayed

The final round of the US Open will not be completed until today (Monday), due to the heavy rain in New York which has played havoc with the scheduling.

We will of course enter the results into Golf Predictor as soon as they are available. This will also delay the publishing of our predictions for this week as the new world rankings will not be available at the usual time. The Monday finish will probably also result in some withdrawals from this week's tournaments, particularly the BMW International Open in Germany, which is a bit of a hike from New York! We will endeavour to produce the predictions as soon as possible.

2009 - Week 29 Prediction Update 2 (Saint Omer Open)

We have run the Golf Predictor prediction engine for the Saint Omer Open presented by Neuflize OBC (European PGA Tour) yet again due to the very late addition of who we thought might be a serious contender. As it turns out, Carlos Del Moral ends up ranked only at number 18, so there is no major change from the previous run.

The up to date predictions are now available on the site. Note that you may have to refresh/reload the page to see the new rankings.