Fewest number of putts in a 72-hole PGA Tour event

It's often been said that events on the PGA Tour are a putting contest.

 

While there is a bit of truth to that -- you've got to be hot with the putter to win -- it doesn't necessarily factor in the fact that it's only truly relevant if the player is hitting tons of greens in regulation.

 

At that point, you're talking loads of birdie looks and makes.

 

If you're missing a lot of greens in regulation, it stands to reason that you'll have less putts. The fact is, you'd be hitting shots a lot closer to the green and -- in theory -- setting up shorter putts for pars and bogeys.

 

We decided to take a look at the best 72-hole putting performances in Tour history. 

 

RELATED: Fewest number of putts in a round on the PGA Tour

 

Amazingly, there have only been six instances in PGA Tour history where players have completed 72 holes with 94 putts or less. Interestingly, four of those six rounds came at the same course -- Harbour Town Golf Links -- in four separate tournaments. 

 

Further, not one of those six spectacular putting performances resulted in a victory and only half of them resulted in a top-10 finish.

 

Here's a look at the best 72-hole putting performances at a PGA Tour event:

 

92 putts

 

With just 92 putts for the week at the 2005 MCI Heritage at Harbour Town -- a paltry 23 putts per round -- South Africa's David Frost is the PGA Tour's record holder for least number of putts in a PGA Tour event. 

 

Though his putting was exceptional, it didn't necessarily translate on the scorecard. Frost would finish in a tie for 38th that week at 6-over 290.

 

93 putts

 

Three times in PGA Tour history, players have needed just 93 putts -- or an average of 23.25 per round -- to complete a tournament.

 

Kenny Knox was the first with 93 putts for 72 holes when he turned the trick at Harbour Town in the 1989 MCI Heritage. He finished the week in a tie for fifth at 6-under 278.

 

Mark Calcavecchia recorded the best finish in the "lowest number of putts" club when shot 13-under 275 and took second place, with 93 putts, at the 2002 Greater Greensboro Open at Forest Oaks Country Club.

 

Eleven years later, Brian Gay became the latest to join the group of players with 94 putts or less in a 72-hole tournament when he used 93 putts in a 1-under 287, T35 at the WGC-Championships Cadillac Championship on Doral's Blue Monster.

 

94 putts

 

George Archer became the first player in Tour history with a round of 94 putts or less in 1980. He needed 94 putts -- an average of 23.5 per round -- at Harbour Town in the Heritage Classic to finish T10 at even-par 284.

 

Finally, Bob Tway tied for 15th at 1-under 283 in the 1986 MCI Heritage Classic with 94 putts.