Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
There is variation in how long it takes a golfer to win for the first time on the PGA tour. There are also golfers who never win. We investigate the time to first win using a survival function methodology, including shots gained measures of golfing ability, number of events played, experience prior to joining the tour, the competition, as explanatory variables. We also construct and include a variable that measures the ability to perform under pressure. Our pressure construct is potentially applicable to empirical studies of performance under pressure in other sports and the workplace. The data are all golfers whose rookie year was between 2004 and 2015. We find that performance under pressure, prior experience, events played, off the tee (distance and accuracy), and putting are the top five explanations of time to first win.