Open stat attack

By Matt Cooper Last updated: 16th July 2009

What do the numbers tell us after day one at Turnberry? Matt Cooper does the math on Thursday's stats.

Before play started this week the general view was that Turnberry would suit the ball-strikers and the evidence of the first day is that will hold true - unless, that is, someone can maintain a Kenichi Kuboya hot streak on the greens for 72 holes instead of 18.

Currently the top four players (Miguel Angel Jimenez, Tom Watson, Ben Curtis and Kenichi Kuboya) have been hitting at least 7 of every 10 fairways, with only Kuboya not replicating that form when trying to hit the greens in regulation.

But Kuboya's astonishing final four holes (played in five under par) were responsible for him taking a mere 26 strokes on the greens.

Going further down the field three of the five players tied for fifth are also hitting at least 7 of 10 greens in regulation, with Stewart Cink making up for a worse average by joining Kuboya in having just 26 putts.

If ball-striking is to play an important role in days two, three and four, then it might be worth looking at the players currently striking the ball well but bubbling under the radar.

Canada's Mike Weir is yet to miss a green in regulation, whilst Retief Goosen and Mark Calcavecchia have missed just one, and all three sit at three under par.

Ernie Els hit 93% of fairways and lies one under par - can he ever get the putter working again though?

Steve Stricker, Boo Weekley and Lee Westwood fans might be pleased to know that their men have hit 86% of the fairways.

Turnberry Round One Stats:

Three easiest greens to hit:
17th (87.8%), 11th (87.8%), 7th (85.9%)

Three most difficult green to hit in regulation:
5th (51.3%), 12th (52.6%), 14th (53.8%)

Three holes where the rough bears the highest cost to par:
8th (0.868), 5th (0.810), 10th (0.726)

Three easiest fairways to hit:
10th (79.5%), 1st (76.9%), 3rd (74.4%)

Three most difficult fairways to hit:
9th (31.4%), 7th (50%), 17th (52.4%)

Three easiest greens to putt on:
7th (1.6 av putts), 5th and 18th (1.62)

Three most difficult greens to putt on:
11th and 15th (1.83), 17th (1.79)

Three easiest holes to par:
7th, 17th, 11th

Three most difficult holes to par:
16th, 14th, 12th

Matt Cooper