Quicker at address means more success for golfers, says RSM study

Professional golfers could boost their chances of making a cut and earn up to an extra €189,000 (£169,000) a season by spending less time over the ball, according to a new study.

The RSM player performance study, in collaboration with the European Tour, analysed a combined 22,579 shots from 47 players across five tournaments.

The findings showed players with more consistency with the time spent over their ball had a 50 per cent higher chance of making the cut in an event.

Data also found players who took a shorter time over the ball across all putts had a 90 per cent increase in the likelihood of strokes gained, while spending less time playing a shot on average can significantly bolster a player's European Tour earnings.

Paul Waring, who finished 60th on the Race to Dubai in 2017, said: "The average figure of €189,000 more a year if players improve the consistency of their routines and spend less time over the ball will certainly open a lot of eyes in the European Tour locker rooms.

"Stats are so important in all sports and especially in golf, when you think of the range of elements we need to consider in our game."

Led by Dr Matt Bridge, Senior Lecturer in Coaching and Sports Science at the University of Birmingham, the study investigated what would happen to a player's score if shots, where a player spent one second or longer than their average at address, were adjusted.

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European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley said: "I'm constantly thinking about how the game of golf will evolve and what the future looks like.

"The more data we can make available, the more the pro golfers, and amateurs, will be able to understand the nuances in their performance and hopefully gain that extra edge or advantage."