PREDICTABILITY AND STABILITY OF PROFESSIONAL GOLF ASSOCIATION TOUR STATISTICS

Professional Golf Association (PGA) statistics for the years 1986-1988 were analyzed to assess their value as predictive tools. Previous stu dies have not yielded a consensus regarding whether PGA statistics can be used to predict outcome, but preliminary indications suggested tha t hitting greens in regulation is the most important factor in maintai ning a low scoring average. Using a stepwise multiple-regression proce dure, the present study confirmed this finding as stable over a three- year period. it is concluded that replication of previous findings and stability of relationships over time suggest that the selected PGA st atistics are a useful predictive tool.