World Number One Luke Donald is joined by the likes of Rory McIlroy, Alvaro Quiros and Retief Goosen in new vision of Europe’s ‘perfect’ golfer
 
Genworth Financial, Official Statistics Partner of The European Tour, have launched the Ultimate Performing Golfer- a new composite model designed using statistical analysis from across the current European Tour season.

From the accuracy of Luke Donald to the driving distance of Alvaro Quiros, the Ultimate Performing Golfer utilises the key attributes from the leading European Tour players in 2011.

Ahead of the season finale Dubai World Championship presented by DP World, Genworth has used its sponsorship of the European Tour statistics to look at what makes the ultimate golfer.

Based on statistical categories including Stroke Average, Driving Accuracy, Driving Distance, Greens in Regulation and Putts per Round, Genworth has taken the leader from each category to create the Ultimate Performing Golfer.
 
As well as being currently top of the Official World Golf Ranking, Luke Donald has already won the US PGA Tour Money List and heads into this week’s Dubai World Championship in pole position in The Race to Dubai.

Therefore it is no surprise that he currently leads one category (Driving Accuracy with 77.7% of fairways hit) and is in the top six of five others (Stroke Average, Greens in Regulation, Putts per Greens in Regulation, Sand Saves and One Putts).
 
The Ultimate Performing Golfer is based on the premise that modern golfers must master not just one but various aspects of the game.

Following his stunning win in the UBS Hong Kong Open, Rory McIlroy has taken over at the top of the Stroke Average Category with a figure of 69.13 but he is being pushed hard for that prestigious title by Donald, Charl Schwartzel and Sergio Garcia. McIlroy is one of the few players to match Donald’s all-round consistency this year, illustrating that with a current top ten placement in three other categories: Greens in Regulation, Putts per Greens in Regulation and Scrambles.
 
Alvaro Quiros sits easily at the top of the leaderboard for Driving Distance with an average distance of 312.2 yards and a total length of 29,720 yards from 95 drives, whilst Lorenzo Gagli and Justin Rose are fighting it out for Greens in Regulation (GIR) with the Italian currently leading by 77.3% to the Englishman’s 77.2%.
 
Finally, in the putting standings, an essential skill in any golfer’s armoury, Retief Goosen’s dominance on the greens is demonstrated with an average of 28.2 putts per round. He is also in the top three for the putts in GIR category and places third in Scrambles behind Sergio Garcia and Prayad Marksaeng: Garcia having an impressive 65.3% success rate, making 77 scrambles of par or better when missing a GIR (from the 118 he has missed). 
 
Dr Karl Morris, sports psychologist and mind coach to recent Major Winners Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, commented, “Performing at the ‘optimum level’ is the ultimate quest for professional golfers on The European Tour.

The difference of just one shot in a tournament can be the difference between making and missing the cut, winning a Major Championship or securing your place in a Ryder Cup team.

Success in golf has a lot to do with being able to perform consistently at the highest level. This requires great mental strength and self-belief, so that when you hit a bad patch, you can quickly get back on track.”
 
“The inclusion of these individuals who make up the Ultimate Performing Golfer pays testament to their achievements this year and the hard work they put into all aspects of the game.”
 
Peter Barrett, senior vice president, Lifestyle Protection at Genworth commented, “The Genworth Ultimate Performing Golfer is a great way to illustrate why Luke Donald and other leading golfers are at the top of their game.

The concept is designed to provide golf fans with a real insight into which attributes make the difference within the professional game and specifically what makes these players the best in Europe”.
 
The full list of category leaders and the current standings ahead of The Race to Dubai can be found at www.europeantour.com
For further information please contact:
Matt Barrett
Hill and Knowlton (Genworth Press Office)
mbarrett@hillandknowlton.com
+44 207 413 3714
 
Guy Genney
Genworth Financial
Guy.genney@genworth.com