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Going for the Green: A Simulation Study of Qualifying Success Probabilities in Professional Golf

  • Robert A. Connolly and Richard J. Rendleman
Published/Copyright: October 27, 2011

Each year, over 1,300 golfers attempt to qualify for the PGA TOUR through Q-School. Using simulation, we estimate the probabilities that Q-School correctly identifies high-skill golfers. We show that players with skill equivalent to the very best on the PGA TOUR would have high probabilities of qualifying, but others, equal in skill to many active PGA TOUR members, would have low odds of qualifying. We explore the impact of variations in Q-school structure on qualifying probabilities for players with different skill levels, but most of the variations that improve tournament efficiency are largely impractical.

Published Online: 2011-10-27

©2012 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston

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