As the 2025 golf season progresses, data shows the average PGA Tour player makes a 1-putt roughly 39.7% of the time. This statistic highlights how challenging it is even for elite golfers to consistently hole their first putt, a key aspect of scoring well. Using Shot Scope and PGA Tour figures, comparisons can now be drawn between professionals and amateur golfers, revealing surprising similarities in their putting success rates.
Leading and Struggling Players in 1-Putt Accuracy
Among top performers, Taylor Montgomery and Harry Hall have achieved 1-putt percentages near 45%, placing them among the most reliable putters on tour. Other prominent names, including Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy—both recent Major champions—also rank within the top 20 for this measure. On the opposite end, players like Steven Fisk, Rico Hoey, Will Gordon, Rasmus Hojgaard, and Victor Perez fall below a 35% 1-putt rate, marking them as less consistent on the greens.
An interesting data point is Xander Schauffele, the 2024 Champion Golfer of the Year, who currently holds a 1-putt percentage of 36.99% in 2025. This figure places him just a few percentage points ahead of several strong amateurs, reflecting his recent struggles with putting. Xander Schauffele has struggled with the putter this season, holing less than four in ten attempts first time on the PGA Tour.
Comparing 1-Putt Percentages of Amateurs and Professionals
The gap between the average amateur golfer and PGA Tour players in 1-putt statistics is narrower than many might expect. Scratch golfers and 5-handicap players average about a 34% 1-putt rate, which aligns closely with some professionals like Rasmus Hojgaard. Club golfers typically average around 30%, while higher-handicap players around 25 struggle more, recording percentages closer to 26%.
While it is understood that the quality of greens on tour surpasses that of most amateur playing surfaces, this data still challenges assumptions about skill differences. Improving first-putt success is a promising area for amateurs to enhance their game and significantly lower their handicaps.
The average amateur golfer makes almost as many 1-putts as some PGA Tour professionals.
Techniques to Improve Your 1-Putt Percentage
Increasing one-putt success hinges on mastering stroke mechanics, reading greens effectively, and controlling pace. Focusing on these fundamentals can lead to fewer 3-putts and more consistent scores. Learning to interpret the subtle breaks and speeds of greens improves line selection, while refining putting technique reduces common errors. Sharpening distance control ultimately raises the chances of sinking the first putt.