We've been digging through the European Tour statistics from the 2018 season, and have found the five best scramblers around the green from throughout the year. If you want to take equipment inspiration from the world's best on how to get up and down when you miss the green, look no further than these men.
1. Rafa Cabrera Bello - 65.9%
Cabrera Bello recorded four top 10s during the season, but his last came at the Italian Open in June. Perhaps the explanation for this was poor iron play, as his greens in regulation percentage was down to 66%, where it had previously never been below 70%. He also struggled off the tee with less than 58% fairways hit. However his scoring average of 69.95 was the lowest of his career, in large part due to his strong short game.
Rafa led the Tour in scrambling, managing to get up and down almost two-thirds of the time. He uses the 2016 Titleist Vokey SM6 Wedges in 46 degree pitching wedge, 54 degree sand wedge and 60 degree lob wedge, as well as the new Scotty Cameron Concept X putter.
2. Padraig Harrington - 65.8%
47 year-old Harrington still continues to compete at the highest level, with three top 10s during the 2018 season including a runner-up finish at the Czech Masters. Despite struggling at times with his long game, Harrington’s touch around the green remained sharp as demonstrated by his second-place ranking in scrambling.
Harrington uses the Wilson FG Tour PMP wedges, along with a TaylorMade Hi-Toe lob wedge, and a Wilson Infinite Southside putter.
3. Adrian Otaegui - 65.0%
Now in his sixth year on tour, Otaegui’s season highlight was a victory at the Belgian Knockout in May. This was supported by five other Top 10 finishes to result in what was comfortably Otaegui’s most successful year on the European circuit.
A member of TaylorMade’s staff, Otaegui uses the Milled Grind Wedges along with a Spider Tour Red Putter.
4. Chris Paisley - 64.3%
Like Otaegui, Paisley enjoyed his most successful season on the European Tour with three Top 10s and a win at the BMW SA Open in January. Key to his success was his iron play, finding almost 70% of greens in regulation, and his short game. Team Callaway member Paisley was the fourth best on Tour in scrambling this season, using the Callaway Mack Daddy Forged Wedges along with an Odyssey Works Tank Versa putter.
5. Thorbjorn Olesen - 63.9%
Finishing 8th in the Race to Dubai rankings, Olesen earned a place on the European Ryder Cup Team for 2018 with a string of consistent performances throughout the season. A win at the Italian Open and a further seven Top 10s lifted Olesen inside the Top 50 in the World Rankings, with a 69.89 scoring average for the season ranking as the best of his career. Olesen finished fifth in the scrambling stats using Callaway Mack Daddy 4 wedges and a Scotty Cameron Newport putter.
Summary
As the statistics above prove, there are many different options for golfers to put into the bag if they want to sharpen up their short game. Although a new set of wedges won't turn you into Seve Ballesteros overnight, and a top of the range putter won't have you rolling them in like Jordan Spieth straight away, getting properly fitted for clubs which suit your game correctly can make things much easier and give you more confidence when you are around the greens.
Read our Wedge Buying Guide here
Read our Putter Buying Guide here
Find out more about Wedge Bounce here