DeChambeau, Schauffele & stars: Specific improvements needed.

Should you inquire with PGA Tour participants about their primary deficiencies, a wide array of responses would emerge: some rooted in intuition, others in statistical data, some in creative play, and some influenced by their historical achievements and past triumphs.

Deficiencies are inherently subjective. A golfer renowned for driving, yet who had a poor season in that specific aspect, might still maintain a broad outlook on their overall capabilities. This principle applies to all areas of their equipment. Conversely, some athletes might consider particular facets of their play beyond improvement, perhaps hoping for intermittent stellar performances to bolster their fundamental strengths.

We will examine areas where athletes might have underperformed in 2025 – considering both immediate setbacks and aspects requiring significant improvement. Were these merely subpar years, or do they signal the onset (or persistence) of declining patterns?

Viktor Hovland’s Tee Shots

Hovland’s career-best year with irons – where he placed second only to Scottie Scheffler in strokes gained approach in 2025 – coincided with his least effective season for driving. Golf, indeed, proves to be an unpredictable sport. The previous FedEx Cup victor frequently expressed frustration during the season about his discomfort with the driver, and it is plausible that this contributed to him not clinching the U.S. Open title, where he secured third place alone.

“Indeed, I’m quite displeased with my driver,” Hovland remarked at Oakmont. “I simply cannot seem to master it. It’s been a persistent issue throughout this year, which is quite vexing.”

However, what precisely caused Hovland’s difficulties with his initial shot?

Hovland’s Tee Shot Metrics

The most significant observation from the data above? Hovland’s velocity metrics showed a decline. During his remarkable 2023 campaign, the Norwegian athlete possessed an extra 4 mph in average ball velocity and 3 mph in club head speed. Intriguingly, his increased swing speed correlated with more precise ball flight within a narrower target area.

A portion of this decline might be attributed to physical ailment – Hovland was forced to pull out of Sunday singles at the Ryder Cup because of a persistent neck issue that surfaced at the Travelers Championship – or perhaps a general reduction in speed-focused drills. Irrespective of the underlying reason, the outcome restricted his performance throughout different periods of the year.

Bryson DeChambeau’s Mid-Range Game

DeChambeau has historically not been regarded as the premier iron player globally, yet he has consistently demonstrated the ability to deliver elite-level displays. In 2025, such performances largely eluded him, with the exception of a LIV Golf tournament in Korea, which also marked his sole win for the year.

In significant tournaments, this aspect of his game hindered the two-time U.S. Open winner. It played a crucial role in his inability to maintain his lead on Sunday at the Masters, after taking it just two holes into the concluding round, and similarly explained his decline in contention on Saturday at the PGA Championship.

His performance was simply inadequate, and its shortcomings became apparent at those particular courses.

DeChambeau sought to address this issue – he swapped out his 3D-printed Avoda irons, which garnered attention at the 2024 Masters, for a new set from LA Golf prior to the U.S. Open, and also utilized an alternative golf ball aiming for reduced spin. While immediate improvements weren’t evident in the latter part of the summer, the strategic approach is clear, and with a complete off-season dedicated to adjustments, DeChambeau is expected to reveal a new solution for 2026.

Collin Morikawa’s Proximity Play

Morikawa’s profound dedication to executing a fade is so intense that he reportedly wished for it from Santa Claus on Christmas Day. Genuinely. Whether he received this gift remains unknown, yet its presence would be inconsequential if his short game fails to show improvement. While Morikawa’s iron performance doesn’t match its peak from 2020 and 2021, seasons in which he secured two major titles, two additional PGA Tour victories, and the DP World Tour Championship, it isn’t significantly diminished.

He nevertheless secured third position on the PGA Tour this year for strokes gained approach, trailing solely Scheffler and Hovland. This indicates an area where he excels, but for him to claim major events – a feat he hasn’t accomplished since the 2023 Zozo Championship, also known as the Baycurrent Classic – his iron game alone will not suffice.

To rival players like Scheffler, McIlroy, and DeChambeau, Morikawa requires mastery of every aspect of his game. He possesses less raw power and shows no apparent desire to pursue it, thereby narrowing his route to triumph, a path further constrained by the condition of his short game. Peak performances remain achievable when all elements align, but his baseline effectiveness diminishes when his signature fade falters.

During 2025, Morikawa recorded the lowest total strokes gained season of his professional career, primarily due to it being his second-poorest performance both with shots around the green and with putting. This contrasts sharply with the previous year, when he achieved his second-highest total strokes gained season – surpassing even his 2020 and 2021 results – attributed to his strongest year for both putting and greenside play.

Therefore, why wasn’t that his peak? Because he endured his least effective year for approach shots. However, with his iron play now recovered, that particular concern ought to be alleviated. Instead, attention should shift towards enhancing his chipping, pitching, and putting abilities.

Xander Schauffele’s Greenwork

Schauffele’s tee shot statistics exhibit some variability. His return following an injury occurred during a segment of the calendar that included several of the PGA Tour’s most challenging courses for driving, and notably, he also introduced a different driver into his equipment.

Managing numerous factors presents a challenge, yet Schauffele’s most significant deficiency emerged in an area with minimal external influences: the greens. The recently concluded season represented the initial instance in his career where he ceded strokes to his PGA Tour competitors while wielding the putter. He finished 139th overall, surrendered nearly 0.20 strokes per round, and even briefly changed putters during the post-season play.

Annual Putting Strokes Gained

Just as tee shots can establish a player’s position, performance on the greens impacts all other facets of one’s golf. Should putting falter, scoring becomes more challenging, scrambling harder, and golfers are less prone to execute up-and-downs from bunkers adjacent to the green. Schauffele serves as a clear illustration of this phenomenon.

In 2024 – a year that also marked his career’s strongest – he secured the top position on the PGA Tour for scrambling and 12th for strokes gained putting. However, this last year, his standing fell to 139th for putting and 136th for scrambling. His success rate decreased from 71% to 58%. His ability to save from sand also saw a reduction of roughly 5%, with his one-putt frequency declining by a similar margin.

While these statistics pertain to his recovery shots, his overall scoring data presents a consistent narrative. He recorded approximately two fewer birdies per competition and completed par 3s and par 4s above par. This followed a season where he excelled in par-3 scoring on the PGA Tour and played par 4s below par. Such performance typically leads to winning major championships, or potentially two, as was Schauffele’s experience.

Nevertheless, positive developments are evident. Schauffele conspicuously outperformed his competitors in his solitary FedEx Cup Fall appearance, securing a victory in Japan. Despite inaccuracies in the tournament’s recorded statistics, Schauffele’s performance on the putting surfaces was, by critical observation, exceptionally strong. A similar assessment applied to Bethpage Black, where he shone as a key asset for the U.S. squad.

Numerous factors provide optimism for Schauffele as he approaches 2026. His tee shots steadily improved, his iron game stayed precise, and he demonstrated an undeniable resilience. What might be paramount? He is highly unlikely to repeat such an inferior putting performance.