How Much Better Are PGA Tour Golfers than Average Golfers?

As you can see, these two kinds of player’s status definitely have different qualities and require different treatments on the golf course. So what exactly is the difference between a professional player and an amateur player?

Something that all amateur golfers do when they watch the sport on television is compared themselves to the Pros on tour. When you see them scoring under par in most rounds that they play it can be easy to be in awe of their ability. However, just how much better are PGA Tour golfers than the average golfer?

In this post, I will cover why PGA Tour players score better than your typical golfer does and how to close the gap between your game and theirs.

The Data

Let’s start with the data. Firstly, the scoring average on the PGA Tour is around 70. Compare this to average male golfers of whom only 5% manage to score under 80 per round. This illustrates quite a difference between the two. However, what makes this even more impressive is that golf courses are considerably longer than the average golf course, which means that there are chances that amateur golfers would shoot even higher scores if it were a direct comparison between the two.

It’s normal to think that pros are able to shoot the scores that they do day in and day out when they spend so much time out on the golf course, yet they are able to hit both fairways and greens consistently and major errors are in general at a minimum.

Closing the Gap

If you’re looking to get better at golf, then it is important to see exactly where you can drive improvements in your own game. Chances are there are a variety of things that you can do to improve your scores ranging from quick wins such as having a better concentration on the course to improving your putting to cut out needless mistakes that cause three putts on a hole.

However, there are often long-term things that you can do too to improve your game, which will drive solid long term improvements such as investing in the right equipment, perfecting your swing and hitting the ball further.

It can often be hard to understand just how good professionals are compared to yourself. Therefore you can compare your level compared to the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour players by checking your handicap at ReachPar. Once you know and monitor your handicap you are in a better position to track it and monitor your progress so that you can really see how close the gap is to the pros.

In Summary

As you can see the gap between how good the professionals are and yourself are can certainly be closed. It’s also important to remember that the professionals are playing the sport every time they get a chance, so they are more able to dedicate the time needed to be the best at the craft whereas most golfers will play a maximum of a few times per week.

By staying on top of your handicap on a regular basis you will be able to ensure that you are checking and updating your handicap on a consistent basis. By monitoring closely, you can zero in on the exact causes of your scores and make targeted improvements that will lead to a better golfing experience.

Golf is hard and everyone knows this. If you’re a golfer who has great skill, then smart and consistent practice will take your game to the next level. However, the point I’m trying to make here is that although everyone knows that the world’s greatest golfers are very skilled athletes, they are actually a lot better than what you think they are.