Table 1.
Description of the variables in the dataset.
| Variable | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| PlayNum1 | Numeric | Player Identification number |
| Season | Numeric | Yearly season |
| TournamentChronologicalOrder | Ordinal | Chronological order in which the tournaments took place within the season |
| TournamentEntered | Categorical {1; 0} | Binary variable that indicates whether the player entered the tournament. Takes value 1 if the player entered the tournament and 0 otherwise |
| TournamentPrizeMoney | Numeric | Prize of the tournament in US dollars |
| CompetitivenessTournament | Numeric | Measure of the aggregated level of ability of the players who entered the tournament. It is calculated using the formula available on the site of the Official World Golf Ranking |
| InvitationalAlternateTournament | Categorical {1; 0} | Takes value equal to 1 when the regular tournament is an alternate or invitational event, which is less prestigious than a regular tournament (0) |
| AbilityRanking | Numeric | Ability of the player. It is determined by his position in the Official World Golf Ranking |
| CumulativeCareerMoney | Numeric | On-the-course money that the player has accumulated on the PGA Tour tournaments (going back as early as 1983) |
| LongInjurySeason | Categorical {1; 0} | Dummy indicating whether the player is injured by the time he enters a tournament |
| Temperature | Numeric | Average temperature during the four rounds of the tournament. Meteorological conditions are known for influencing tournament self-selection |
| DistanceHomeTournament | Numeric | Distance (kilometers) between the residence of the player (updated by season) and the tournament. |
| DifferenceDistanceHomeTournament | Numeric | Geographical distance (kilometeres) between the current tournament and the next one |
| Distance to Losing PGA Card2 | ||
| ExemptNextSeason | Categorical {1; 0} | Takes value equal to 1 if the player won a tournament in the current season, which grants him exempt status for next season (i.e., right to enter PGA Tour tournaments next season) |
| PercentageMoneyLeft | Numeric | Percentage of the current season's total prize money that remains to be allocated. The lower the percentage remaining, the higher the competitive pressure |
| DistanceLosingCard | Numeric | Ranks distance (in the season's cumulative money ranking) between his current position and player #125 (i.e., last rank to keep the card). A value of −9 (+9) means that he is 9 ranks below (above) the threshold of survival, and thus in a provisional dangeours (safe) position to keep the card |
| Players'Performance Momentum3 | ||
| PositiveMomentum_MadeCut | Numeric | Number of consecutive made cuts4 that the player has been able to string together in the tournaments recently entered within the season |
| NegativeMomentum_madecut | Numeric | Number of consecutive missed cuts that the player strung in the tournaments recently entered within the season |
| PositiveAcrossSeasonStreak_cut | Numeric | Number of consecutive made cuts that the player strung in the same tournament (e.g., U.S. Open) in the seasons prior to the present season. A tournament non-entry does not break the positive across-period momentum, but an entry with negative performance (i.e., not making the cut) does |
| NegativeAcrossSeasonStreak_cut | Numeric | Number of consecutive missed cuts that the player strung in the same tournament (e.g., U.S. Open) in the seasons prior to the present season. A tournament non-entry does not break the negative across-period trajectory. When the player makes the cut in that tournament, the negative across-period trajectory resets to zero |
1
With the PlayNum, the researcher can identify the player's name on PGA Tour's website.
2
This ensemble of three variables allow to capture a player's distance to losing his PGA Card license (i.e., right to play in the PGA Tour the next season) and how that may affect his current tournament self-selection strategy.
3
This ensemble of four variables allow to capture a player's short-term and long-term performance trajectory.
4
PGA Tour tournaments consist of four rounds. Of all players entering the tournament, only the half with the lowest cumulative strokes after two rounds “make the cut,” advancing to the final two rounds. Players who do not “make the cut” receive no prize.