Appendix

Determining Peak and Career Ratings

1. Players are rated separately for five-year peak and for career value.
2. Unless exempted, players must have competed in a minimum of ten “major” tournaments within a consecutive five-year period. “Major” tournaments are as defined by the chief golf governing bodies for men and women. Performance in the Western Open during the pre-1958 period is used in order to offset the inability of many golfers from that era to participate in the British Open. For years prior to World War II, Z scores from major amateur tournaments are counted at 50 percent.
3. For match-play competitions, players’ equivalent medal scores will be estimated using a predetermined formula.
4. A player’s “peak performance” rating shall be the average of his or her ten best Z scores from up to twenty major events within a five-year period, except that every major in which the player participated during his or her peak years must be represented at least once. For post-2012 LPGA professionals who competed in up to five majors per season, peak ratings are based on a four-year window comprising up to twenty majors.
5. A player’s career rating shall consist of the sum of the Z scores of his or her performances from the beginning of his or her professional career until the player turns fifty years old or announces his or her retirement from competitive golf.
6. In computing standard deviations, high-end “outliers” producing noncompetitive scores may be excluded.

Converting Standard Deviation to Stroke Average

During a normal eighteen-hole round of a PGA- or LPGA-level tournament played on a normal par-72 course, every stroke generally translates to about 0.7 of 1 standard deviation in the field performance. Assuming a field average of even par, we can use that information to create a table capable of translating a standard-deviation measurement of difference back into strokes. That’s the method used in this book. At increments of 0.05 of a standard deviation, here is the resultant table.

Standard deviation	Effective stroke average	Standard deviation	Effective stroke average
–2.70	68.00	–1.55	69.69
–2.65	68.07	–1.50	69.76
–2.60	68.15	–1.45	69.84
–2.55	68.22	–1.40	69.91
–2.50	68.29	–1.35	69.98
–2.45	68.37	–1.30	70.06
–2.40	68.44	–1.25	70.13
–2.35	68.51	–1.20	70.21
–2.30	68.59	–1.15	70.28
–2.25	68.66	–1.10	70.35
–2.20	68.74	–1.05	70.43
–2.15	68.81	–1.00	70.50
–2.10	68.88	–0.95	70.57
–2.05	68.96	–0.90	70.65
–2.00	69.03	–0.85	70.72
–1.95	69.10	–0.80	70.79
–1.90	69.18	–0.75	70.87
–1.85	69.25	–0.70	70.94
–1.80	69.32	–0.65	71.01
–1.75	69.40	–0.60	71.09
–1.70	69.47	–0.55	71.16
–1.65	69.54	–0.50	71.23
–1.60	69.62	–0.45	71.31
–0.40	71.38	–0.15	71.75
–0.35	71.45	–0.10	71.82
–0.30	71.53	–0.05	71.91
–0.25	71.60	–0.00	72.00
–0.20	71.68

Defining the Women’s Majors

Over the years, there has been substantial fluctuation in the definition of a “major” tournament on the women’s tour. For purposes of this study, women’s majors—as defined by the LPGA—are as follows:

1930–36: Women’s Western Open
1937–45: Women’s Western Open and Titleholders
1946–54: Women’s Western Open, Titleholders, and U.S. Open
1955–66: Women’s Western Open, Titleholders, U.S. Open, and LPGA
1967: Women’s Western Open, U.S. Open, and LPGA
1968–71: U.S. Open and LPGA
1972: Titleholders, U.S. Open, and LPGA
1973–78: U.S. Open and LPGA
1979–82: U.S. Open, LPGA, and du Maurier
1983–2000: Nabisco Dinah Shore (Nabisco/ANA), U.S. Open, LPGA, and du Maurier
2001–12: Nabisco, U.S. Open, LPGA, and British Open
2013–present: ANA, U.S. Open, Women’s PGA, British Open, and Evian Masters

Note: The first major of the LPGA season, currently known as the ANA Inspiration, has had several names since being elevated to major status. Here is the name history: Nabisco Dinah Shore, 1983–99; Nabisco, 2000–2001; Kraft Nabisco, 2002–14; and ANA Inspiration, 2015–present.

The Top 25 Players of All Time

Based on the average of their ten best Z scores from a period of twenty consecutive tournaments or less within five seasons (four seasons for post-2012 LPGA players), unless fewer than ten tournaments were played within the five-year window in which case the window can be expanded to include ten tournaments.

Player	Peak years	Z score	Effective stroke average
1. Tiger Woods	1998–2002	–2.60	68.15
2. Annika Sorenstam	2002–2006	–2.49	68.31
3. Jack Nicklaus	1971–75	–2.302	68.59
4. Arnold Palmer	1960–64	–2.301	68.59
5. Yani Tseng	2008–12	–2.29	68.60
6. Karrie Webb	2000–2004	–2.28	68.62
7. James Braid	1901–10	–2.18	68.76
8. Tom Watson	1977–81	–2.17	68.78
9. Ben Hogan	1950–54	–2.13	68.84
10. Bobby Jones	1926–30	–2.11	68.87
11. Walter Hagen	1923–27	–2.10	68.88
12. Sam Snead	1949–53	–2.07	68.92
13. Mickey Wright	1958–62	–2.06	68.93
14. Harry Vardon	1896–1904	–2.03	68.98
15. Ayako Okamoto (tie) Ralph Guldahl	1985–89 1936–40	–2.02 –2.02	69.00 69.00
17. Phil Mickelson	2001–5	–1.9970	69.03
18. Cristie Kerr	2007–11	–1.9974	69.03
19. Laura Davies	1994–98	–1.991	69.04
20. Inbee Park	2013–17	–1.989	69.05
21. Byron Nelson	1937–41	–1.984	69.06
22. Pat Bradley	1985–89	–1.977	69.06
23. Gene Sarazen	1929–33	–1.976	69.06
24. Nick Faldo (tie) Betsy King	1988–92 1986–90	–1.96 –1.96	69.09 69.09

The Top 25 Players of All Time Based on Career Z Score

Player	Career years	Career Z score
1. Jack Nicklaus	1962–89	–104.81
2. Walter Hagen	1913–40	–73.94
3. Patty Berg	1935–68	–73.21
4. Sam Snead	1937–62	–68.69
5. Tiger Woods	1997–2017	–64.62
6. Louise Suggs	1949–72	–60.31
7. Mickey Wright	1954–84	–59.67
8. Annika Sorenstam	1994–2008	–59.16
9. Gene Sarazen	1920–51	–58.09
10. Ben Hogan	1938–62	–53.09
11. Byron Nelson	1933–61	–44.88
12. Jim Barnes	1913–32	–43.84
13. Sandra Haynie	1961–89	–43.61
14. Macdonald Smith	1910–37	–43.15
15. JoAnne Carner	1970–89	–43.04
16. Gary Player	1956–84	–40.86
17. Bobby Jones	1916–30	–39.62
18. J. H. Taylor	1893–1921	–38.69
19. Juli Inkster	1984–2007	–38.34
20. Harry Vardon	1894–1920	–37.88
21. Inbee Park	2007–17	–36.80
22. Arnold Palmer	1955–80	–36.67
23. Babe Zaharias	1935–56	–35.77
24. Kathy Whitworth	1959–89	–34.68
25. Lloyd Mangrum	1937-1962	–34.49

Other Scores

Here is a table of the peak and career performance scores of prominent players not featured elsewhere in this book. The players are listed in alphabetical order. The list includes their average peak Z score (Peak Z), the effective stroke average (ESA) represented by that average standard deviation (on a scale where an average standard deviation of 0.00 equals an eighteen-hole score of 71.97), the seasons constituting that peak, their career Z score (Career Z), and the seasons comprising their career.

Player	Peak Z	ESA	Peak years	Career Z	Career years
Amy Alcott	–1.59	69.63	1978–82	1.71	1975–2005
Jamie Anderson	–0.96	71.06	1869–82	–7.38	1869–88
Isao Aoki	–0.87	70.69	1978–82	30.84	1974–90
Tommy Armour	–1.47	69.81	1929–33	–16.18	1920–42
Paul Azinger	–0.86	70.70	1997–2002	52.30	1985–2006
John Ball Jr.	–0.81	70.78	1888–93	–14.08	1890–1912
Jane Blalock	–1.38	69.94	1976–80	–19.98	1969–84
Tommy Bolt	–1.24	70.15	1954–58	1.93	1950–66
Julius Boros	–1.32	70.03	1955–59	–21.62	1950–70
Gay Brewer	–1.06	70.41	1964–68	37.27	1956–81
Jack Burke Jr.	–1.40	69.91	1952–56	30.44	1940–74
Angel Cabrera	–0.89	70.66	2006–10	64.33	1997–2017
Donna Caponi	–1.70	69.47	1977–81	–15.64	1965–88
Billy Casper	–1.51	69.75	1964–68	–12.24	1956–79
Bob Charles	–1.14	70.29	1968–72	26.83	1961–76
Jim Colbert	–0.51	71.22	1971–75	37.49	1967–87
Harry Cooper	–1.72	69.44	1934–38	–22.07	1923–42
Kathy Cornelius	–0.94	70.65	1961–65	–15.96	1956–82
Henry Cotton	–1.54	69.71	1934–48	–25.02	1927–58
Fred Couples	–1.58	69.65	1988–92	22.86	1982–2009
Bruce Crampton	–1.02	70.47	1969–73	10.13	1956–76
Ben Crenshaw	–1.59	69.63	1976–80	43.47	1973–2001
Fay Crocker	–1.06	70.45	1954–58	–15.19	1954–61
Bobby Cruickshank	–1.00	70.50	1921–26	–8.75	1921–42
John Daly	–0.35	71.45	1991–95	110.05	1991–2015
Beth Daniel	–1.85	69.10	1980–84	–21.57	1978–2007
Jimmy Demaret	–1.55	69.69	1946–50	–8.11	1936–58
Roberto deVicenzo	–0.75	70.87	1950–54	–15.59	1948–72
Bruce Devlin	–1.12	70.32	1965–69	8.42	1962–83
Leo Diegel	–1.60	69.62	1926–30	–28.19	1916–39
Luke Donald	–1.13	70.31	2004–8	49.08	1999–2016
Olin Dutra	–1.40	69.91	1931–35	–8.71	1928–48
David Duval	–1.36	69.97	1997–2001	56.14	1995–2015
Lee Elder	–0.12	71.79	1976–80	35.61	1966–83
Steve Elkington	–0.83	70.75	1991–95	31.57	1988–2011
Ernie Els	–1.65	69.54	2000–2004	14.52	1992–2017
Johnny Farrell	–1.40	69.91	1924–28	7.76	1922–51
Shanshan Feng	–1.47	69.81	2013–17	-7.47	2007–17
Bob Ferguson	–1.31	70.06	1868–86	13.09	1868–86
Dow Finsterwald	–1.37	69.96	1959–63	22.19	1951–76
Ray Floyd	–1.37	69.96	1974–78	1.96	1963–92
Doug Ford	–1.63	69.57	1955–59	21.74	1950–71
Rickie Fowler	–1.28	70.09	2013–17	–0.38	2009–17
Jim Furyk	–1.27	70.10	2003–7	18.17	1994–2017
Sergio Garcia	–1.27	70.10	2002–6	18.47	1999–2017
Al Geiberger	–1.05	70.43	1965–69	29.21	1961–85
Vic Ghezzi	–0.94	70.59	1940–47	9.40	1932–60
Bob Goalby	–0.68	70.97	1959–63	39.96	1957–78
Johnny Goodman	–0.46	71.29	1933–37	2.94	1929–46
Retief Goosen	–1.55	69.69	2001–5	14.99	1996–2016
David Graham	–1.30	70.06	1979–83	45.33	1970–95
Hubert Green	–1.44	69.85	1974–78	42.23	1974–96
Marlene Hagge	–1.38	69.97	1956–60	–6.04	1947–83
Beverly Hanson	–1.30	70.09	1955–59	–19.81	1950–61
Claude Harmon	–0.83	70.75	1945–49	27.22	1942–65
Padraig Harrington	–1.13	70.31	2004–8	53.66	1996–2017
Dutch Harrison	–0.86	70.70	1950–54	–7.50	1936–58
Harold Hilton	–0.98	70.53	1897–1901	–26.12	1887–1914
Jock Hutchison	–1.83	69.28	1919–23	–34.43	1908–33
Hale Irwin	–1.42	69.88	1975–79	–0.66	1971–95
Tony Jacklin	–1.29	70.07	1968–72	13.76	1963–77
Betty Jameson	–1.07	70.40	1952–56	–22.92	1934–64
Lee Janzen	–1.02	70.47	1993–97	42.37	1993–2008
Dustin Johnson	–1.38	69.94	2012–16	2.02	2008–17
Zach Johnson	–0.92	70.62	2012–16	47.08	2007–17
Ariya Jutanugarn	–0.72	70.91	2014–17	10.39	2014–17
Martin Kaymer	–0.91	70.63	2010–14	11.79	2008–17
I. K. Kim	–1.44	69.85	2009–13	1.53	2006–17
Tom Kite	–1.09	70.37	1981–85	22.72	1972–99
Brooks Koepka	–1.21	70.19	2013–17	–2.77	2012–17
John Laidlay	–0.81	70.78	1888–93	–15.32	1885–1910
Bernhard Langer	–1.33	70.01	1984–88	52.32	1984–2007
Tom Lehman	–1.41	69.90	1984–88	14.91	1992–2003
Justin Leonard	–1.21	70.19	1996–2000	50.13	1995–2016
Stacy Lewis	–1.71	69.46	2011–14	–28.86	2008–17
Brittany Lincicome	–1.16	70.26	2007–11	13.92	2004–17
Lawson Little	–0.94	70.59	1938–42	7.47	1933–57
Gene Littler	–0.84	70.73	1958–62	–9.20	1954–77
Davis Love III	–1.65	69.54	1995–99	70.65	1986–2013
Sandy Lyle	–1.11	70.34	1985–89	58.72	1977–2000
Meg Mallon	–1.60	69.62	1991–95	1.85	1986–2008
Carol Mann	–1.32	70.03	1964–68	–23.83	1961–88
Bob Martin	–1.05	70.43	1873–87	–9.68	1873–91
Hideki Matsuyama	–1.27	70.10	2013–17	–2.56	2013–17
Graeme McDowell	–1.05	70.43	2008–12	47.31	2004–17
Cary Middlecoff	–1.77	69.37	1955–59	–5.99	1940–70
Johnny Miller	–1.66	69.54	1972–76	36.80	1969–94
Mary Mills	–1.41	68.90	1963–67	–3.90	1962–83
Colin Montgomerie	–1.15	70.28	1995–99	61.89	1990–2010
Kel Nagle	–0.96	70.56	1961–65	11.94	1951–70
Larry Nelson	–1.13	70.31	1979–83	60.77	1976–91
Anna Nordqvist	–1.41	69.90	2014–17	–6.84	2009–17
Andy North	–0.55	71.16	1978–82	62.27	1975–95
Christy O’Connor	–0.88	70.68	1958–67	–11.16	1951–74
José María Olazábal	–1.24	70.15	1990–94	51.46	1984–2007
Mark O’Meara	–0.91	70.63	1995–99	82.60	1980–2007
Louis Oosthuizen	–1.03	70.45	2011–16	26.17	2004–17
Francis Ouimet	–0.53	71.19	1923–29	–13.25	1913–36
Jumbo Ozaki	–0.02	71.94	1989–93	44.82	1972–97
Mungo Park	0.07	72.09	1874–86	0.55	1874–86
Willie Park Jr.	–1.14	70.29	1883–92	–13.51	1880–1905
Willie Park Sr.	–0.78	70.82	1860–70	–11.58	1860–82
Corey Pavin	–1.37	69.96	1992–96	69.15	1982–2009
Dottie Pepper	–1.54	69.71	1989–93	–31.53	1988–2004
Suzanne Pettersen	–1.76	69.38	2010–13	–3.51	2001–17
Henry Picard	–1.60	69.62	1935–39	–19.36	1932–56
Nick Price	–1.47	69.81	1992–96	31.81	1978–2006
Judy Rankin	–1.05	69.78	1975–79	1.44	1963–88
John Revolta	–1.38	69.94	1933–37	–2.18	1929–60
Chi Chi Rodriguez	–0.55	71.16	1969–73	32.85	1961–82
Bob Rosburg	–1.29	70.07	1955–59	20.01	1953–73
Justin Rose	–1.24	70.15	2013–17	33.26	1999–2017
Paul Runyan	–1.59	69.63	1934–38	–8.86	1928–57
So Yeon Ryu	–1.63	69.57	2013–16	–24.07	2010–17
Doug Sanders	–1.12	70.32	1966–70	–3.21	1957–76
Adam Scott	–1.65	69.54	2011–15	22.79	2001–17
Patty Sheehan	–1.86	69.23	1992–96	–15.23	1980–2006
Denny Shute	–1.31	70.04	1932–36	–14.54	1928–54
Vijay Singh	–1.35	69.98	1998–2002	14.89	1989–2013
Alex Smith	–1.45	69.84	1904–10	–25.76	1898–1921
Horton Smith	–1.36	69.97	1928–32	–6.47	1928–58
Marilynn Smith	–1.29	70.13	1961–65	–6.94	1950–77
Hollis Stacy	–1.31	70.00	1977–81	45.28	1974–2000
Henrik Stenson	–1.52	69.73	2013–17	9.91	2001–17
Jan Stephenson	–1.46	69.82	1981–85	20.28	1974–2001
Dave Stockton	–0.92	70.62	1970–74	37.74	1968–91
Curtis Strange	–1.24	70.15	1985–89	69.15	1975–2002
David Strath	–0.65	71.01	1869–77	–5.18	1869–77
Lexi Thompson	–1.65	69.54	2013–17	–13.47	2010–17
Peter Thomson	–1.40	69.91	1952–56	–14.15	1952–79
Jerome Travers	–0.53	71.19	1907–14	–3.87	1903–19
Walter Travis	–0.93	70.60	1900–1905	–16.89	1898–1914
Ken Venturi	–1.16	70.26	1956–1961	8.26	1956–74
Lanny Wadkins	–1.27	70.10	1984–88	29.73	1971–99
Art Wall Jr.	–0.41	71.37	1959–63	29.02	1952–73
Bubba Watson	–0.66	71.00	2011–15	28.17	2007–17
Lee Westwood	–1.50	69.76	2009–13	35.71	1995–2017
Michelle Wie	–1.18	70.23	2013–17	19.32	2006–17
Ian Woosnam	–1.16	70.26	1989–93	55.94	1982–2004
Fuzzy Zoeller	–1.19	70.22	1981–85	54.35	1976–2001

The 25 Most Dominant Major Tournament Performances in History

Rank	Player	Season	Tournament	Z score
1.	Cristie Kerr	2010	LPGA	–4.21
2.	Tiger Woods	2000	U.S. Open	–4.12
3.	Yani Tseng	2011	LPGA	–4.10
4.	Karri Webb	2000	Nabisco	–3.77
5.	Dottie Pepper	1999	Nabisco Dinah Shore	–3.57(62)
6.	Nancy Lopez	1985	LPGA	–3.57(56)
7.	Patty Sheehan	1984	LPGA	–3.56
8.	Davis Love III	1997	PGA	–3.54
9.	Betsy King	1992	LPGA	–3.52
10.	Henrik Stenson	2016	British Open	–3.50(4)
11.	Louis Oosthuizen	2010	British Open	–3.50(2)
12.	Jack Nicklaus	1965	Masters	–3.48
13.	Billy Casper(tie) Arnold Palmer	1966	U.S. Open	–3.42
15.	Juli Inkster	2002	U.S. Women’s Open	–3.39
16.	Tom Watson	1977	British Open	–3.38
17.	Jack Nicklaus	1980	PGA	–3.34
18.	Tiger Woods	2000	British Open	–3.33
19.	Nancy Lopez	1989	LPGA	–3.30
20.	Tom Watson	1980	British Open	–3.26
21.	Jordan Spieth	2017	British Open	–3.25
22.	Karrie Webb	2001	U.S. Women’s Open	–3.24
23.	Tiger Woods	1997	Masters	–3.20
24.	Amy Alcott	1991	Nabisco	–3.16
25.	Arnold Palmer	1962	British Open	–3.15

Note: In cases of ties, Z scores are carried out to a sufficient number of additional places to break the tie, if possible; these tiebreakers are indicated in parentheses.

The 25 Most Dominant Major Seasons in History Based on Average Z Score (Minimum 3 Majors)

Rank	Player	Season	Z score
1.	Tiger Woods	2000	–2.77
2.	Yani Tseng	2011	–2.59
3.	Ben Hogan	1953	–2.58
4.	Jordan Spieth	2015	–2.32
5.	Tiger Woods	2005	–2.28
6.	Karrie Webb	2000	–2.25
7.	Bobby Jones	1930	–2.23
8.	Arnold Palmer	1964	–2.20(0)
9.	Annika Sorenstam	2003	–2.19(8)
10.	Byron Nelson	1946	–2.17
11.	Pat Bradley	1986	–2.16(0)
12.	Ben Hogan	1946	–2.15(7)
13.	Juli Inkster	1999	–2.15(0)
14.	Sam Snead	1949	–2.14
15.	Ayako Okamoto	1987	–2.11
16.	Ayako Okamoto	1986	–2.08
17.	Nancy Lopez	1985	–2.07
18.	Jack Nicklaus	1973	–2.05(0)
19.	Byron Nelson	1939	–2.04(6)
20.	Jack Nicklaus	1975	–2.04(2)
21.	Arnold Palmer(tie) Mickey Wright	1962 1961	–2.04(0) –2.04(0)
23.	Karrie Webb(tie) Juli Inkster	2001 1992	–2.03(8) –2.03(8)
25.	Babe Zaharias	1950	–2.03

Note: In cases of ties, Z scores are carried out to a sufficient number of additional places to break the tie, if possible; these tiebreakers are indicated in parentheses.