Rank and Performance in Dynamic Tournaments: Evidence From the PGA Tour

Abstract

Using data from the final round of golf tournaments, we analyze the effect of player rank on performance. The identification of varying levels of pressure is possible due to the detailed nature of the data set, which allows us to determine the rank of each player just prior to teeing off on each hole. We find that players in the lead tend to underperform, especially near the very end of the tournament and when the lead is closely contested. We also create a measure to rank individual golfers based on how their performance is affected by high-pressure situations.

Performance under Pressure on the Court: Evidence from Professional Volleyball

“…Therefore, we conclude that the interim rank of the team hast no (additional) significant effect on individual performance under pressure. This result contradicts the finding of a better performance when lagging behind which has been established in literature (Hickman et al 2018) and mainly attributed to more risky-strategies (Genakos and Pagliero 2012). 16 The results of the remaining control variables reveal further insights into the determinants of serving performance.…”

“…In contrast, studies employing basketball data confirm a negative effect of time-induced pressure on free-throw performance (Cao et al 2011;Toma 2015). This result is also supported by studies using data from professional golf (Hickman and Metz 2015;Hickman et al 2018) and weight lifting (Genakos and Pagliero 2012). Furthermore, scholars employing data from professional tennis find indication for gender differences in the effect of pressure on performance (Paserman 2010;De Paola and Scoppa 2017;Cohen-Zada et al 2017).…”

“…When studying the relationship between performance and psychological pressure one has to consider risk-taking as an important intervening factor (see Genakos and Pagliero 2012;Hickman et al 2018). One approximation for the level of risk-taking is the serve type, i.e., whether the serve is performed as a jump serve or another serve type.…”

“…Hence, it allows analyzing precisely the effect of pressure on performance (see Kahn 2000). In consequence, scholars turned to the question under which circumstances choking and/or underperformance occurs in sports (e.g., Dohmen 2008;Jordet 2009;Toma 2015;Cohen-Zada et al 2017;Hickman et al 2018). Many of these studies focus on the analysis of performance under pressure in penalty shootouts in soccer and do not paint a consistent picture on the pressure-performance relationship (e.g., Dohmen 2008;Jordet 2009;Apesteguia and Palacois-Huerta 2010;Arroundel et al 2019).…”

Performance under pressure in skill tasks: An analysis of professional darts

“…The success rate at the final putt of a golf tournament is found to decrease as the value associated with that shot increases [52]. Finally, golfer currently with the lead are found to underperform at the end of close contests [53].…”