The race for distance on the PGA Tour has become increasingly more important over the years as a key to success on Tour is getting as close to the hole as possible off the tee.
While driving distance isn’t the only statistic that is going to lead to victories on Tour, the statistic can lead to players performing well in other areas too.
Let’s dive into the four top pros on the PGA Tour in driving distance and how they’ve fared this season.
4. Wyndham Clark – 318.2 average
Clark is technically no. 5 in driving distance, but the fourth-ranked player, Matthew Wolff, jumped on to the LIV Invitational Series and no longer plays on the PGA Tour. While Clark possesses the distance off the tee, the length hasn’t resulted in a ton of success this season.
The 28-year-old is still looking for his first PGA Tour victory and currently sits comfortably inside the FedEx Cup standings at 95th. Clark has a pair of top 10 finishes this season, highlighted by a T7 at the RBC Canadian Open. He’s cashed in on 19 of 27 events with six top 25s.
3. Jon Rahm – 318.8 average
The 2021 U.S. Open champion and former top-ranked golfer in the world comes in at third in driving distance. Even though he’s fallen to fifth in the world, Rahm picked up his seventh PGA Tour victory at the Mexico Open and has missed just one cut over 16 events.
The 27-year-old had a quiet season in majors, his best finish a T12 trying to defend his title at the U.S. Open at the Country Club. While the results haven’t paid off, Rahm still is one of the top players in the world and showcases the skills outside of his driving distance to be in contention every week he tees it up.
2. Rory McIlroy – 319.4 average
Rory is second on the PGA Tour this season in driving distance, and his length off the tee has been a key piece to his success in 2022. McIlroy has pair of victories this season, one in the fall at the CJ CUP and again this summer at the RBC Canadian Open.
The four-time major winner added top 10 finishes in all four majors, including a runner-up at the Masters and solo third at the Open Championship.
McIlroy can punish the ball off the tee, but he sits 110th in driving accuracy. The accuracy hasn’t hurt the 33-year-old from scoring, ranking first in scoring average on Tour.
1. Cameron Champ – 319.7 average
Champ’s ranked in the top five in driving distance for the last four seasons on Tour, including leading the circuit in 2019. The distance off the tee has provided Champ with three Tour victories, his last in 2021 at the 3M Open.
This season, the 27-year-old has struggled, sitting at 149th in the FedEx Cup standings, and will need a pair of high finishes over the next two weeks if he wants to get into the playoffs. Champ’s made just ten of 17 cuts this year, with three top 25 finishes.
