ATLANTA — Only the top 30 golfers on the FedEx Cup points list have earned spots in the field at this week’s Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, and one of the surest ways to have the consistency needed to finish that high in the standings is hit high-quality iron shots. A lot of them.

Distance off the tee can be a huge advantage, but when golfers’ approach shots stay out of trouble and finish near the hole, they avoid making big numbers and set up birdie chances. That translates to low scores and fat bank accounts.

The stat on the PGA Tour that reveals the best iron players is Strokes Gained: Approach the Green. It shows how much of an advantage a player has, measured in strokes, over other golfers based exclusively on the quality of his approach shots and tee shots on par 3s.

The PGA Tour’s regular season has now concluded, and the list below reveals the players who finished in the top 10 in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green, along with the irons they use.

MORE IRONS: Best irons of 2023 for every handicap and playing style

10. Tom Kim, 0.644

Titleist T100 irons. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

IRONS: Titleist T200 (2), with Fujikura Ventus Black Hybrid 10 TX shaft, (3) with True Temper Project X 5.5, Titleist T100 (4-9) with True Temper Project X 6.0 shafts

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9. Gary Woodland, 0.712

Gary Woodland’s Cobra golf equipment. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

IRONS: Cobra King Forged CB (4-7), MB (8-PW), with Project X 6.5 shafts

8. Rickie Fowler, 0.724

Rickie Fowler’s Cobra equipment. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

IRONS: Cobra King Forged Tour (4-PW), with KBS Tour C-Taper 125 S+ shafts.

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7. Tony Finau, 0.746

Tony Finau’s Ping golf equipment. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

IRONS: Nike Vapor Fly Pro (3), Ping Blueprint (4-PW), with Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 120 TX shafts

6. Tom Hoge, 0.759

Tom Hoge’s Titleist irons. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

RONS: Titleist 620 CB (4), 620 MB (5-PW), with Project X 6.5 shafts

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5. Xander Schauffele, 0.793

Xander Schauffele uses Callaway’s Apex TCB irons. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

IRONS: Callaway Apex TCB (4-PW), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts

4. Jon Rahm, 0.806

Jon Rahm’s Callaway equipment. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

IRONS: Callaway Apex UT (2), with Aldila Tour Hybrid prototype shaft; Callaway Apex TCB (4-PW), with Project X 6.5 shafts

3. Rory McIlroy, 0.831

Rory McIlroy’s TaylorMade golf equipment. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

IRONS: TaylorMade P730 RORS proto (3-9), with Project X 7.0 shafts 

2. Collin Morikawa, 0.948

Morikawa’s mid- and short-irons are customized TaylorMade P7CM. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

IRONS: TaylorMade P•770 (4), P•7MC (5-6), P•7CM prototype (7-PW), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts

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1. Scottie Scheffler, 1.30

Scottie Scheffler’s golf equipment. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

IRONS: Srixon ZU85 (3-4), with Nippon Pro Modus3 Hybrid Tour X shaft; TaylorMade P-7TW (5-PW), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts

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