The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) maintains statistics on performance and earnings for members of the PGA Tour. Year-end performance statistics for 1997 appear on the data set PGATOUR.XLS. Each row of the data set corresponds to a PGA Tour player, and the data have been ranked according to total 1997 earnings in sponsored PGA Tour events. Descriptions for data appear below. In these descriptions, a round refers to 18 holes of golf. PGA Tour events usually consist of four rounds of golf played over 4 days. Scores obtained for rounds played on Thursday and Friday of a Tour event are used to limit the size of the field for the final two rounds played on Saturday and Sunday. Players who achieve a low enough total core on Thursday and Friday to enable them to play on Saturday and Sunday are said to have made the cut.

Earnings …………..   Total earnings in PGA Tour events

Events ……………    Number of PGA Tour event entered

Rds. ………………    Number of rounds completed

Cuts Made ………..   Number of events in which the player makes the cut

Rds. In 60s ………..   Number of rounds with a score in the 60s

Rds. Under Par ........  Number of rounds with a score less than par

Birdies ………….…   Average number of birdies per round

Scoring Avg ………   Average score in all events

Driving Distance …    Average number of yards per drive (The length of a drive is measured to the point the drive comes to rest, whether it is in the fairway. Driving distance is measured on two holes per round

Fairways …………..   Average number of times a player is able to hit the fairway with his tee shot in a round.

Greens …………….   Average number of times a player is able to hit the green in regulation (A green is considered hit in regulation if any part of the ball is touching the putting surface and the difference between the value of par for the hole and the number of strokes taken to hit the green is at least 2)

Putts ………………   Average number of putts taken on greens to hit in regulation

Sand Saves ………..   Percent of time a player is able to get ‘up and down’ once in a greenside sand banker. (Up and down means that the number of strokes taken to hit the ball out of the sand and into the hole is at most two).

Managerial Report.

Suppose that you have been hired by the commissioner of the PGA Tour to analyze the data for a presentation to be made at the annual PGA Tour dinner. The commissioner has asked whether it would be possible to use these data to determine which performance measures, such as Cuts Made, Driving Distance, Fairways, etc. have the most effect on a 

(a) The player’s score 

(b) The amount of money earned. 

Use the methods learned in class so far to analyze the data. Prepare a report for the PGA Tour commissioner that summarizes your analysis, including key statistical results, conclusions, and recommendations. Include any appropriate technical material in the appendix.