Does Stableford Scoring Incentivize More Aggressive Golf?

Abstract

A few PGA Tour events have been played using modified Stableford scoring, a format in which the gain to playing a hole below par is greater than the cost of an above-par score on a hole. This article examines whether the asymmetric gains and losses of modified Stableford scoring are associated with more aggressive play. Although the results indicate that modified Stableford scoring is associated with longer tee shots and an increased likelihood of tee shots missing the fairway, modified Stableford scoring is unrelated to golfers’ likelihood of going for the green on par-five holes, the likelihood of first putts being made, the likelihood of first putts being hit beyond the cup, and the distribution of scores relative to par. Hence, there is, at best, weak evidence that modified Stableford scoring is associated with more aggressive play.