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The Perfect Approach: What's Brewing at UnderPar
Check out what we're building, our CJ Cup Recap, and trending player analytics
Cole Freeman
May 05, 2025
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In this week's newsletter:
- What we are building
- Tournament recap
- Trending player analytics
What is UnderPar? 🤔
Ever wished you had the inside scoop on golf stats that actually matter? Well, that's exactly why Ben and I are creating UnderPar.
We're building a golf analytics community designed specifically for fans who want deeper insights without drowning in spreadsheets.
UnderPar will deliver what traditional coverage misses: advanced analytics, timely notifications, rich media content, and fantasy golf advice that actually gives you an edge.
No more guessing which players are truly heating up or cooling down! Our analytics will provide the intel.
Source: GIPHY
The Data Drives Everything 🚀
Behind our dashboards and analytics, we're building some seriously cool data pipelines. Here's the tech magic happening behind the scenes:
Tournament Intelligence Pipeline 🕵️♂️
Monday mornings just got better! Our post-tournament breakdowns provide readers with a a rich analysis of the top players in the field. Who gained strokes where? Who just got lucky? Our visualizations make sense of all these trends.
Pre-Tournament Projection System 🔮
Additionally, we're working on some predictive analytics that will make you look like a genius when talking with your friends about who's going to show up big in the next tournament.
Real-Time Updates Pipeline ⏱️
Finally, get excited about players making big moves on the course before primetime coverage. We're working on a system that will notify you via X (formerly Twitter) of lead changes, long drives, and low scores (think Eagles). Don't miss the excitement because it's not on TV yet.
Recapping the CJ Cup Byron Nelson Classic
Well The CJ Cup Byron Classic was a shoot out 31 under par, tying the PGA Tour 72 hole record, was a hell of a score from Scottie Scheffler. Course conditions warranted preferred lies for the first three rounds of the tournament.
I'm not a big fan of the pros getting to play it up, really under any circumstances. They make the big bucks for a reason! Right?
Keep scrolling to see how it all shook out:
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Final Leaderboard:
Scottie Scheffler
Erik van Rooyen
Sam StevensTournament data updated: May 4, 2025 by UnderPar
So How'd they do it 🧐
Tee to Green scoring was really the story of the week with Scheffler running away from the rest of the field. Scottie made it look easy this week but really shined from his driver through his approach shot. Scheffler finished 1st in SG: tee to green, 1st in SG: approach, and 2nd in SG: off the tee.
Let's break down the dominance
Scottie made it look easy at 31 under par. His ball-striking was absolutely ridiculous with a field dominating +4.25 shots gained Tee to Green. Let's be real though, the man gained strokes everywhere, no weakness in sight!
Van Rooyen hung around, and who wouldn't want to finish a PGA Tour tournament 23 under par. It just wasn't enough…not nearly enough to beat Scottie this week. He definitely put up some tournament winning numbers at +3.18 shots gained tee to green. He just wasn't a match for Scottie this week.
| METRIC | SCHEFFLER -31 | VAN ROOYEN -23 |
|---|---|---|
| SG: PUTTING Strokes gained on the green | +1.53 | +0.60 |
| SG: AROUND GREEN Strokes gained in short game | -0.19 | +0.43 |
| SG: APPROACH Strokes gained on approach shots | +2.89 | +1.65 |
| SG: OFF THE TEE Strokes gained on tee shots | +1.55 | +1.09 |
| SG: TEE TO GREEN Combined T2G performance | +4.25 | +3.18 |
| SG: TOTAL Overall strokes gained | +5.78 | +3.78 |
| FINAL ROUND R4 score | -8 | -8 |
An anomaly
Stevens was actually an anomaly on the course. Where most of the leaders were gaining strokes tee to green or on their approaches, Sam lost strokes in the tee to green and off the tee categories. His near tournament leading +2.09 SG: Putting kept him in the mix. Well not really, but was anyone actually in the mix other than Scottie?
Elite ball striking
At the end of the day, elite ball striking was what dominated this field. You saw it in Scottie, you saw it in van Rooyen, and you saw several of the other top ten finishers this week. So what's in store for next week? Check out the rest.
What to watch for this weekend at the Truist Championship
The Wissahickon Course was designed by the architect behind Winged Foot and Bethpage Black. It will play at 7,100 yards, par 70 with over 100 bunkers and sloping fairways that demand accuracy and precision off the tee.
Approach shots will be just as critical as the greens are often crowned and elevated, demanding the right angle into the pin.
Rory McIlroy
Rory is one of the favorites for good reason. He's having a phenomenal season, coming off a historic win at The Masters, and is the defending champion of this event. He ranks 2nd on Tour in total shots gained and 1st in shots gained off the tee. His iron play is excellent, though he's not always pinpoint accurate with the driver. If he struggles with fairway placement this week we may not see a repeat.
28th in sand save percentage (65.5%)
19th in SG: Approach (0.595 avg)
Last 5 starts: T12, 1, T5, 1, T15
Collin Morikawa
Morikawa is a top contender due to his elite iron play. He ranks 3rd in SG: Approach and is considered one of the best ball strikers on Tour. While not a long hitter, he has excellent accuracy off the tee which is ideal for avoiding the course's many fairway bunkers and deep rough.
162nd in sand save percentage (51%)
3rd in SG: Approach (1.090 avg)
3rd-best birdie average on Tour (4.84)
Last 5 starts: T54, T14, T10, 2, T17
Russell Henley
Henley is having a great season with a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and multiple Top 10s. His skill set fits this course well: driving accuracy over distance, an excellent approach game, and strength both around and on the greens. His ability to make clutch sand saves could be a difference-maker.
30th in sand save percentage (65.4%)
15th in SG: Approach (0.606 avg)
4th-best birdie average on Tour (4.84)
Last 5 starts: T8, CUT, T30, 1, T6
Sepp Straka
Straka is flying under the radar despite a strong season. He has a win, a few Top 10s, and nine Top 25s so far. Like Henley, he prioritizes accuracy over distance, is excellent on approach, and strong from the sand.
17th in sand save percentage (68%)
2nd in SG: Approach (1.098 avg)
Best birdie average on Tour (4.84)