Strokes gained statistics have had a growing influence in the game of golf. That should continue with the introduction of three new strokes gained statistics: strokes gained: off-the-tee, strokes gained: approach-the-green and strokes gained: around-the-green.

Along with strokes gained: putting, which was introduced in 2011, we can now analyze each aspect of a player's game with the strokes gained statistics, which compare a player's performance to the rest of the field. All strokes gained statistics are calculated using ShotLink, the PGA TOUR's real-time scoring system powered by CDW.

The strokes gained concept was initially developed by Professor Mark Broadie of Columbia University, utilizing ShotLink data that has been made available to academic institutions for research since 2007. Strokes gained is a better method for measuring performance because it compares a player's performance to the rest of the field and because it can isolate individual aspects of the game. Traditional golf statistics, such as greens in regulation and putts per green, are influenced by a player's performance on shots other than those being measured.

The PGA TOUR also produces strokes gained: total, which measures a player's performance against the field, and strokes gained: tee-to-green, which measures all strokes not taken on the putting green.

To explain how strokes gained can be used to analyze a player's performance, let's start with strokes gained: total. Strokes gained: total simply compares a player's score to the field average. For example, a player will gain three strokes on the field if he shoots 69 on a day when the field averages 72. A player who shoots 74 on that day loses two strokes to the field.

In 2014, the PGA TOUR broke down strokes gained: total into two categories, strokes gained: tee-to-green and strokes gained: putting.

Strokes gained: putting measures how many strokes a player gains (or loses) on the greens. Strokes gained: tee-to-green measures all strokes not taken on the putting green.

Strokes gained: tee-to-green + strokes gained: putting = strokes gained: total

The new strokes gained statistics, which were introduced June 1, break down tee-to-green play into three categories: off-the-tee, approach-the-green and around-the-green. The sum of those three statistics equals strokes gained: tee-to-green.

Off-the-tee + approach-the-green + around-the-green + putting = strokes gained: total

Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee

Strokes gained: off-the-tee measures player performance off the tee on all par-4s and par-5s.

Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green

Strokes gained: approach-the-green measures player performance on approach shots. Approach shots include all shots that are not from the tee on par-4 and par-5 holes and are not included in strokes gained: around-the-green and strokes gained: putting. Approach shots include tee shots on par-3s.

Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green

Strokes gained: around-the-green measures player performance on any shot within 30 yards of the edge of the green. This statistic does not include any shots taken on the putting green.

The strokes gained formula explained

Rickie Fowler made birdie on TPC Sawgrass' 18th hole in the final round of the 2015 PLAYERS Championship before winning the tournament in a playoff. Fowler hit his tee shot 330 yards on the 446-yard, par-4 before sticking his 116-yard approach shot 16 feet, 11 inches from the hole. He then made the birdie putt.

We'll use Fowler's birdie to explain how strokes gained statistics are calculated.