We all know there are lies, damned lies and statistics but a chance meeting with Paul McGinley in the Press Building at the Masters had me scurrying for the PGA Tour numbers.

Who, we wondered, could win a windy Masters given that it's a given that Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth and many other are being tipped to win.

There are many talents required so the 2014 Ryder Cup winning captain ran through them. He has to be able to drive the ball long and straight (Total Driving), hit greens (GIR), hole putts like a demon (Strokes Gained Putting), get up and down when he misses greens in the wind (Scrambling) and simp;y know how to put a score together (Scoring average).

Picking out the top 20 or so players in the World Rankings with PGA Tour statistics - sorry Danny Willett and Andy Sullivan — and the numbers show that on average, Rickie Fowler (average position across all categories 17.2) has a clear lead over everyone with Phil Mickelson (31.6), Adam Scott (32.6) and Kevin Kisner (34) his nearest rivals. Rory McIlroy (39.4) would be sixth on 2016 form in the US.

Add in a stiff west wind, fast greens and Masters experience and you can draw your own conclusions. Of course, if your Bubba Watson, no rules apply. Good luck with your bets.

Masters form — Breaking down the numbers

Player	SG Putting	Total driving	GIR	Scrambling	Scoring avg	Avg position
Louis Oosthuizen	124	43	40	208	113	105.6
Shane Lowry	71	16	141	189	104	104.2
Branden Grace	164	110	18	164	31	97.4
Graeme McDowell	154	68	98	33	30	76.6
Brooks Koepka	47	44	57	165	36	69.8
Sergio Garcia	199	48	5	57	16	65
Patrick Reed	151	46	77	3	45	64.4
Dustin Johnson	19	75	75	142	11	64.4
Bubba Watson	144	25	1	111	8	57.8
Hideki Matsuyama	151	51	14	61	7	56.8
Jordan Spieth	17	24	164	47	10	52.4
Henrik Stenson	86	5	6	143	15	51
Brandt Snedeker	24	111	68	15	25	48.6
Jason Day	3	65	65	69	35	47.4
Paul Casey	57	12	10	110	23	42.4
Rory McIlroy	94	32	33	33	5	39.4
Justin Rose	87	13	31	37	4	34.4
Kevin Kisner	38	9	26	85	12	34
Adam Scott	42	35	7	77	2	32.6
Phil Mickelson	6	47	98	6	1	31.6
Rickie Fowler	27	15	2	39	3	17.2