Sports Illustrated World Golf Rankings - Rankings and Calculations Explained

Here’s how we do it: A closer look at the data and formulas we’ll use to update our SI World Golf Rankings each week.

This week, SI Golf launched the SI Golf World Rankings, in partnership with Golf Intelligence, which will handle the data and administer the calculations. We’ve attempted to create a system that is simple, clear and transparent – and there is still a lot of nuance to the numbers. Below is an explainer of how we arrive at our rankings. We’ll continue to keep this page updated if we make any adjustments as we go. We also welcome your feedback as we continue to refine our process.

Summary of Sports Illustrated World Golf Rankings (SIWGR)

Overall Ranking

Players from all tours will be awarded SI Golf World Rankings points based on how they finish in their events. The player’s ranking is the average of all points over the past 12 months. A player’s points will be valued based on when the points were earned. Here is a depreciation table of points over time:

• Less than 4 months old - 100% of value
• 4-8 months - 70% of value
• 8-12 months - 40% of value
• The player’s ranking is the sum of all the points divided by the number of the played events

SIWGR will use the same calculation for majors as OWGR

The majors are the defining events of golf. The four majors will be given special and weighted treatment. The ranking points awarded for majors are more than other events. All other events, no matter how strong the field is, are just events and each will be treated equally.

SIWGR will allocate points to players for non-major events

In events with a cut, all players who finish all the rounds will receive ranking points. In no-cut events, only the top 75% of the finishers will receive ranking points.

• Points are allocated by percentage of total points available for the event. The allocation percentage ratio is similar to how players are awarded prize money at Tour events.
• 17.5% of points available to the winner
• 10% for second
• A sliding scale for the remaining players. (See table here)

SIWGR will use Distance per Shot (DPS) instead of Strokes Gained (SG) to gauge players’ ability

• DPS is a simplified version of SG. It is simply distance played divided by total score
• DPS is a new calculation for world rankings, invented by Golf Intelligence
• Each player will have a Current DPS value (Distance Per Shot, calculated in both yards and meters
• A DPS value is obtained from the player’s average of his best scores over the last 12 months (this is similar to the current World Handicap System©)
• A max of 40 scores can be used
• 40% of 40 is 16, so only the player’s top 16 scores will be used for the calculation
• A min of 20 scores is needed: 40% of 20 is 8, so only the best 8 scores will be used if a player only has 20 scores
• If the player does not have at least 20 scores in the last 12 months, his DPS value will not be “current” and this player will not have an affect on the strength of field calculation

Related: Distance Per Shot Explained - A Deep Dive on the New Calculation in the SI World Golf Rankings

Course Adjustment

A Course Adjustment is calculated using AI and High Fidelity player and course data. If Course A averages a DPS of 100 and Course B has an average DPS of 105, then it is easy to see the stroke differential between Course A and Course B.

For pro golfers, we will compare the DPS numbers from each course they play and rank them accordingly. We will apply the adjustment prior to determining their DPS Ranking value, which will determine the strength of field.

For amateur golfers, we will use the same formula for each skill level and calculate an adjustment before the score is used for their DPS Ranking value.

• We will use 40% of 40 latest scores
• The golfer needs 20 scores minimum to be “current”

SIWGR will use two formulas for Strength of Field

1. When Top 100 players are playing (PGA, Korn Ferry, and DP Tours)

• Top 25 players get 9 points
• Top 26-50 players get 6 points
• Top 51-100 players get 3 points

2. DPS will be used for SOF when there are no players in the Top 100 in the field

• SIWGR will use the top 50 current DPS values in the field to determine the SOF
• The DPS SOF will use this table to determine the points available for the event
• This formula can be used for all events – any professional event with no top 100 player, any female event, and any amateur event

AI will be used to refine SOF

• As Golf Intelligence continues to collect and refine the calculations, the SIWGR will use AI to refine the SOF using course data and player data. Golf Intelligence has detailed data on every golf course and will use that, combined with player data, to hone and improve our ranking on a continuous basis.
• Golf Intelligence has mapped every golf course in the world and measured each feature of every hole.
• Player Data: Golf Intelligence has tools to analyze the information about each shot being made to better understand a player’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Event Data - Golf Intelligence will collect and analyze situational data from events, such as:
• How does a player perform on a morning tee time?
• How does a player perform on a windy or wet day?
• How does a player perform in a strong field versus a weak field?
• How does a player perform when in contention?

Summary of the current Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR)

The OWGR uses a set number of points for majors:

• Each “place” 1st(100), 2nd(60), or 30th(4.5) is assigned a value.
• See table here for Majors

The current OWGR calculation is based on Strokes Gained (SG) data to determine the Strength of Field (SOF)

• Each player is assigned Performance Points based on their SG value
• The Performance Points are calculated (the formula is unknown) and slanted to the top 100 players in the world
• Once you are not in the Top 100, your Performance Points are insignificant to the SOF calculation

The OWGR uses the SOF value (Performance Points of all players in the field) to assign the total points available for an event

• Each place/player gets a percentage of the total points available
• The percentage a player gets based on finish varies from event to event
• The Players and WGC events get different allocation from a regular event
• The OWGR uses 40 as the minimum divisor and 52 as the maximum. If a player only plays 30 events in the past 2 years, the divisor will be 40. If a player plays 60 events in the past 2 years, the divisor will be 52

The OWGR uses the prior two years of events for a players ranking. The points depreciate over time.