Viktor Hovland has been one of the most impressive golfers in the world recently, reaching the top-5 in the Official World Golf Rankings thanks to 10 professional wins in just four years.
A lot of his success appears to be down to his incredible consistency, natural ability and commendable attitude to the game, but, irrespective of his undeniable talent, even the best players need great coaching.
That's where stats guru Edoardo Molinari comes in. After recently announcing a new partnership with golf data giant, Arccos, the Ryder Cup vice-captain revealed an interesting insight that he used to develop Hovland's approach play...
In a recent interview with three-time DP World Tour winner Edoardo Molinari, the Italian revealed that his stats-informed coaching is now being used by a number of the world's best players – including Matt Fitzpatrick, Nelly Korda and Viktor Hovland.
In what can only be described as a truly fascinating insight, Molinari explained that his use of data analytics helped him to spot that Viktor Hovland was "being way too aggressive into the greens".
He went on to add: "Eventually we decided together, you (Hovland) need to be much more conservative, especially with your shorter irons. And then off it was, off to the races and winning tournaments like never before."
According to stats from the PGA Tour, Hovland has improved his birdie or better percentage from the fairway each year from the 2019-20 season through to his memorable FedEx Cup winning year in 2023. He ranked 7th on tour in that category last season, and 4th for birdie average, which suggests that this strategy appears to be paying off.
Describing how he hopes these insights can help more golfers in the future, Molinari said: "We want to create something that is not out there yet, which is basically scaling what I'm doing for the PGA tour, and being able to give pretty much the same service to others like Korn Ferry or NCAA teams, and elite golfers".
Based on the evidence, it appears this service is likely to be a popular one among professionals at all levels, especially when you consider Molinari's track record of success in the playing and coaching spheres so far.
-
Graham DeLaet Facts: 20 Things To Know About The PGA Tour Pro Turned BroadcasterGraham DeLaet had a successful career in the game, but after injuries took a toll, he has stepped into a broadcasting role in recent years - here are 20 facts about him
-
Arron Oberholser Facts: 15 Things To Know About The PGA Tour-Winning Golf Channel BroadcasterArron Oberholser left his PGA Tour career behind to take up life as a Golf Channel broadcaster in 2013 – here are 15 things to know about him
-
Amateur Golfers Make Less Than 40 Percent Of Putts From This Crucial Length'... Arccos Data Reveals Stark Putting TruthsWhen standing over a 'makeable' putt, many golfers would fancy their chances as they pull the putter head back... But this data might make them think twice!
-
Fresh Data Shows The Age Amateur Golfers Hit Their Longest Drives... Is This True For You?Driving distance isn't everything, but data suggests longer tee shots can lead to a lower handicap. So, at what age do amateur golfers hit their longest drives?
-
Data Reveals How Many 3-Putts Amateur Golfers Make Per Round3-putts are extremely frustrating and damaging to your scorecard, but how often do they occur for amateur golfers in the average round? This data reveals all...
-
Heading To The 1st Tee? Stop Right There! This Data Proves Why The Range Might Be A Better Choice...Getting better at golf requires more than just playing regularly on the course, with the data suggesting that practise time could be the key to success...
-
How Close To The Pin Do Amateur Golfers Hit Their Approach Shots?We often set unrealistic expectations on the golf course, which can leave us feeling deflated, so just how close can we expect to get with our approach shots?
-
Is It Better To Miss The Green In The Bunker Or Rough? The Data Is Clear Cut...When assessing options for your next approach shot, this data will help you make better decisions on the 'good' miss and reduce the risk of bringing bogey into play
-
Why You DON'T Need To Make More Birdies To Chop 5 Shots Off Your HandicapFor a mid-handicap golfer, the route towards shooting lower scores and improving your handicap index is clear... if you have access to the right data!
-
How Far Do Amateur Golfers Hit Their Irons? Find Out How You Compare…Ever wondered how your iron shots compare to other golfers in terms of distance? The latest Arccos data reveals all...
