This Rory McIlroy stat highlights the gap between pros and amateurs

This week, Rory McIlroy is aiming to add a Wanamaker Trophy to his already historic 2025.

Just a few weeks ago, the 36-year-old completed history, clinching a career grand slam at Augusta National.

Now, he heads to Quail Hollow, a course where he’s won four times at, aiming to make it two for two in major championships in 2025.

But, is that going to be possible? Well, a look at some key stats would suggest the answer is yes.

Last year, the now five-time major champion ranked fourth in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, gaining nearly a shot per round on the rest of the field. That’s thanks, largely, to a total average driving distance of around 320 yards.

• Should you use a 3-wood or a mini driver?

• Collin Morikawa is using a club aimed at high handicap golfers. Here’s why.

Even compared to his peers, that’s long. The average driving distance on the PGA Tour sits around the 300 yard mark. So, if McIlroy is giving his competitors 20 yards off every tee, he’s got a big advantage.

That will be even more pronounced at Quail Hollow, where the courses stretches to over 7,600 yards. A long course that Rory clearly loves? It could spell bad news for the rest of the field.

But, how does McIlroy’s incredible distance compare to the rest of us? Well, that’s where Shot Scope, and their database of stats from amateur golfers, comes into play.

Thanks to their ever-growing database, we can see that the average amateur player only averages 234 yards off the tee. That’s nearly 90 yards behind McIlroy, who is the joint favourite for the second major championship of the year.

Just imagine how much better you might score if your drives travelled 90 yards further up the fairway.

• One of the tour’s longest hitters has a way to gain yardage

• Fix this driver takeaway fault to stop your slice

While the yardage of 234 yards off the tee relates to an average amateur, around a 15 handicap golfer, the gap only widens as handicaps get higher, which we can also see from Shot Scope.

For a 25 handicap golfer, the difference in distance to a drive from Rory McIlroy sits at 120 yards. Incidentally, for the same golfer, that would take a well hit 8-iron to catch up to the Masters champion.

Of course, these are only averages, but if you are a Shot Scope user, you can keep track of your stats and see how you compare to other users.

Not only can you track driving distance, but also your strokes gained in every metric of your game, how each of your clubs is performing, and how your game has progressed in recent times.

We can’t guarantee you’ll start to drive the ball like McIlroy, but you’ll be able to see which part of your game you should be working on to lower your scores.

More from Shot Scope

• Shot Scope G6 golf watch

• Shot Scope Pro ZR rangefinder

• How Shot Scope can improve everyone’s game

Do you want all the latest news on the latest golf equipment? Subscribe to our YouTube channel, here!

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor