J.B. Holmes, Long on the Tour

A Profile of the Hard-Hitting Pro Heading Into the World Match Play

Feb 20, 2008

Between his rookie 2006 and 2008 FBR Open wins, fans of PGA Tour pro J.B. Holmes didn't have much to cheer. He now looks poised for greater things.

On the eve of his first round match against Tiger Woods in the World Golf Championships Accenture Match Play Championship, Kentucky native J.B. Holmes is certainly the underdog. Tiger is off to a great start. Although he has been beatable in the World Match Play and isn't the biggest fan of match play events, he’s won seven of his last eight events, going back to the end of 2007. But a closer look at Holmes proves he may not be such the underdog.

While in college and a member of the University of Kentucky golf team, the Kentucky native was widely recognized as something of a phenom in his home state. He appeared to be headed for the same greatness during his rookie season in 2006 after winning the FBR Open.

In 26 events that year, he had only five top-25 finishes and a scoring average of 71.22. The following year, he played in 24 events, making the cut in half of them and securing only five top-25 finishes. His scoring average increased to 71.38 and he dropped from 90th to 208th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Everyone who had seen J.B. Holmes play golf, and knew the drive and talent he possessed, knew those numbers wouldn’t last for long. So far this year, Holmes has played in five events, made all five cuts, has one win, two top-10s and three top-25 finishes. Most recently, he finished T7 at the Nortern Trust Open last week at Riviera. Statistically, Holmes ranks 2nd in driving distance (310.2 yds), 4th in scoring average (69.49), 21st in birdie average (4.11), and 43rd in greens in regulation percentage (68.42%).

The most striking of those stats isn’t his 310 yard average driving distance, it’s the nearly two-stroke improvement in scoring average. To be sure, the season is young with lots of difficult courses, Majors and Major-like atmosphere tournaments to come, but the fact remains it is simply a remarkable improvement.

One factor certainly driving Holmes’ improved performance is the possibility of making the Ryder Cup team and playing at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, not far from his home. Continued star-like play, certainly a defeat or near defeat of Tiger at the World Match Play, would help solidify his place on Captain Azinger’s radar. Of course, there’s a long way to go before reaching Valhalla (the golf course not the Norse paradise).

Whatever happens at the Accenture Match Play, it's a given that the long-hitting pro will be around for a long time.

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