x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
Here’s what pro golfers’ handicap indexes would be if they kept score
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf
Instruction

Here’s what pro golfers’ handicap indexes would be if they kept score

By: Luke Kerr-Dineen
  • Follow on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
June 1, 2020
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email

Tiger Woods' handicap would be +6.3.

Getty Images

We all know pros are good at golf. Really good, actually. But sometimes, it’s hard to put into perspective exactly how much better than us these players really are.

Enter Lou Stagner, one of the minds behind DECADE Golf, who crunched the numbers on pros’ scores and came up with a list of what players’ USGA indexes would be if they reported their scores.

The metric tracked players’ rounds between 2016 and 2020 based on the scores they shot relative to rating and slope on the course’s scorecard. As you can see, this doesn’t account for other factors, like the greens being firmer and faster when the PGA Tour rolls into town, but it’s still a pretty fascinating look into how good these players are.

You can see the full table below, but what are some quick takeaways? The average Tour pro has a handicap index of +5.4.

1. Rickie Fowler at one point reached the lowest index at +8.4.

2. Dustin Johnson has the best average index, at +6.5.

3. Brooks Koepka at one point had the second-worst index of any player in the top 25.

4. Tiger Woods has one of the five best indexes.

Fascinating stuff. Check it out:

Have you ever wondered what the USGA index would be for a PGA Tour pro if they posted scores like we do?

Yeah, me too.

Shot out to my buddy Clay Ballard (@TopSpeedGolf) for the idea.

Index of avg tour pro:
▶️ +5.4

Best index achieved:
▶️ Fowler +8.4 pic.twitter.com/krYodzF7GZ

— Lou Stagner (Golf Stat Pro) (@LouStagner) May 30, 2020

Editor’s Picks

John Daly's talented 16-year-old son is already out-driving him

John Daly’s talented 16-year-old son is already out-driving him

'PGA Tour University' will help best collegiate golfers begin pro careers

‘PGA Tour University’ will help best collegiate golfers begin pro careers

Hall-of-Fame Teacher reveals 3-step test to find your perfect driver stance

Hall-of-Fame Teacher reveals 3-step test to find your perfect driver stance

The refreshing reason one PGA Tour pro is learning Korean

The refreshing reason one PGA Tour pro is learning Korean

Latest In Instruction

8 hours ago

The best advice Scottie Scheffler ever received — and why it works

10 hours ago

A clever (& legal!) trick to check your grip during the round

17 hours ago

Drew Stoltz's favorite bunker trick to fool your unsuspecting buddies

2 days ago

The mental habits that win major championships

Luke Kerr-Dineen

Golf.com Contributor

Luke Kerr-Dineen is the Game Improvement Editor at GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com. In his role he oversees the brand’s game improvement content spanning instruction, equipment, health and fitness, across all of GOLF’s multimedia platforms.

An alumni of the International Junior Golf Academy and the University of South Carolina–Beaufort golf team, where he helped them to No. 1 in the national NAIA rankings, Luke moved to New York in 2012 to pursue his Masters degree in Journalism from Columbia University. His work has also appeared in USA Today, Golf Digest, Newsweek and The Daily Beast.

  • Author Facebook Account
  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

News
The Woods family at the PNC Championship.

Tiger and Annika's wholesome remarks, JT's step-in caddie | Rogers Report

By: Claire Rogers
News
Tiger and Sam Woods at the PNC Championship

Sam Woods caddies for Tiger, Trevino's tip for Charlie Woods | Rogers Report

By: Claire Rogers
News
Tiger Woods and Will McGee at the PNC Championship

Tiger Woods' imitation, the PNC's best friendship | Rogers Report

By: Claire Rogers
News
Max Homa pokes fun at Tiger, DJ goes fishing and Min Woo Lee celebrates his win.

Max Homa dunks on Tiger, Min Woo Lee's victory clapback | Rogers Report

By: Claire Rogers
News
Jena Sims and Brooks Koepka got married in June of 2022

Meet Brooks Koepka's wife, Jena Sims | Photos through the years

By: Claire Rogers
News
Jena Sims and Brooks Koepka

Brooks Koepka's wife Jena Sims on Netflix critiques, Masters hugs and more | Rogers Report

By: Claire Rogers
News
mike torut hitting drive at topgolf

Mike Trout back hitting absolute bombs at Topgolf (and now we know his ball speed)

By: Nick Dimengo
News
tiger woods charlie woods

Where is Tiger Woods? Busy caddying for his son Charlie's career-low round

By: Sean Zak
News
Tiger Woods, Davis Love

Tiger Woods is watching the Presidents Cup. And he got a call DURING play

By: Nick Piastowski
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version