Several years ago, KPMG officials asked former LPGA commissioner Mike Whan a simple question: What’s the LPGA’s No. 1 pain point?
Answer: The lack of statistics and analytics.
KPMG stepped up to the challenge, launching the KPMG Performance Insights technology in 2021, which introduced strokes gained metrics to the LPGA for the first time. The data, collected by caddies, was first made available to the public earlier this year with the launch of a new website.
It’s not ShotLink, but it’s a step in the right direction as the LPGA tries to narrow the great data divide between the men’s and women’s game. Last July, the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach became the the first women’s professional tournament to provide ShotLink data, meaning fans could track every shot from every player in the field.
What would it take to get ShotLink every week? A whole lot of money.
In the meantime, here’s a look at 10 stats leaders from the 2023 season:
In Gee Chun of South Korea reacts to a putt on the 18th hole during the final round of The Chevron Championship at The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa on April 03, 2022 in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Three-time major winner In Gee Chun didn’t win a title this year, but she enjoyed some special moments at the tour’s biggest events. The only player on tour to record two aces this year, Chun’s first came when she holed out at the Chevron Championship on the 164-yard, par-3 17th hole in the third round.
Her second came at the historic U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach, when she struck a perfect shot on the 154-yard par-3 fifth hole during the final round. She then high-fived the crowd down the gallery ropes. It was the 33rd ace in USWO history.
Perfection at Pebble! 1️⃣
That’s a #USWomensOpen ace for @ingeechun_dumbo! pic.twitter.com/bc6zpqpG4N
— U.S. Women’s Open (@uswomensopen) July 9, 2023
Polly Mack of Germany plays her shot from the sixth tee during the final round of the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational at Midland Country Club on July 22, 2023 in Midland, Michigan. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Germany’s Polly Mack topped the driving distance category this year with a 281.750 average. The former Alabama player from Germany played in 17 events this season. The LPGA only measures two holes per tournament for distance off the tee.
China’s Xiaowen Yin, another rookie, came in second at…
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