Elias Sports Bureau Brings Research Expertise to 2021 PGA Championship

Elias Sports Bureau, the Official Statistician of the PGA of America, will provide statistics research and editorial support for the 2021 PGA Championship, to be played over The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, May 20-23. Elias and the PGA are currently in the second year of a multiple-year agreement that will ensure that ‘The World’s Foremost Statisticians and Historians’ will share its statistical expertise over the next several PGA Championships.

As the Official Statistician of the PGA, Elias Sports Bureau has audited and authenticated all data and records associated with the PGA Championship, back to its original event in 1916. As custodians of the PGA historical records, Elias continues to update and maintain this data, ensuring its accuracy.

During the PGA Championship, Elias Sports Bureau will provide media and research support to the PGA of America, fielding incoming questions to ensure up-to-the-minute response. Elias’ editorial team will mine information from the historical data to produce Elias Notes – data-driven storylines blending statistics with player and Championship news that are distributed to the PGA’s media partners. The team will also proactively identify exciting and compelling stories along with relevant statistics.

“The PGA Championship is exciting,” says Randy Robles, New Partner Development Lead at Elias Sports Bureau. “Our goal at Elias is to mine the historical data to uncover compelling stories that grab the attention of fans. There is always an opportunity to break a long standing record, like Collin Morikawa did in 2020 by shooting the best final 36-hole score in PGA Championship history. Who might break a record this year? These are the types of stories we help identify and season with statistical flavor.”

"After 100-plus years of PGA Championship history, we decided that it was time to invest in the PGA Championship’s future by verifying and optimizing our historical data,” said John Dever, Director, Public Relations - Championships for the PGA of America. “Our first call was to the Elias Sports Bureau. They’ve been terrific to work with, from our first discussion in New York right through our final data file exchange. Along the way, we’ve asked hundreds of questions and Elias always delivered. We also learned a little more about our own Major Championship along the way. The entire exercise was both fun and fruitful, but above all, it provides us with great comfort knowing that the PGA Championship’s ample history and data is verified and will continue to be moving forward."

“Elias is proud to partner with the PGA of America,” said Joe Gilston, President of Elias Sports Bureau. “With the most experienced researchers and editorial team in sports, Elias is uniquely positioned to help ensure an exceptional 2021 PGA Championship experience for all fans of golf.”

With this partnership, Elias continues to expand its reach in sports - supporting nearly every professional sport in the United States.