PGA Tour Leaders’ Struggles: Kevin Kisner Reveals a Telling Trend

The PGA Tour has witnessed a concerning pattern recently: players with substantial leads collapsing in the final rounds of tournaments. From Shane Lowry to Ludvig Åberg, several golfers have stumbled when victory seemed within reach. Former Presidents Cup player Kevin Kisner believes he has identified the root cause.

Recent examples highlight this trend. Shane Lowry faltered at the Cognizant Classic despite a three-shot lead with three holes remaining. Daniel Berger lost his advantage at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and Ludvig Åberg succumbed to pressure at The Players Championship. These collapses have opened the door for victories by Nico Evchavarria, Akshay Bhatia, and Cameron Young.

The Weight of a Prolonged Lead

Kisner’s theory centers around the duration of the lead itself. He suggests that players are holding onto their advantages for longer periods than typically seen, creating a unique mental challenge.

“I reckon it’s the length of time they held their heads that explains this. These players have been in the lead longer than we usually witness. Berger led from start to finish, and that weighs on you. Four days in a row with everyone chasing you… Ludvig, for 36 hours, 48 hours, everyone is behind him. This constant pressure that you feel, as if you were isolated, alone on an island. I think it ends up weighing on you,”

Kevin Kisner

The Psychological Shift

Kisner explains that maintaining a lead for an extended period alters the psychological dynamic of the tournament. Although the leader focuses on maintaining their rhythm, competitors are relentlessly attacking.

“When you’re being chased, everyone else attacks hard, foot on the accelerator all the time, while you just try to stay in your rhythm, to continue what you’re doing because you’re playing very well. And suddenly you look up and you say to yourself: damn, everyone is catching up with me. There, I have to speed up, and it’s a really difficult situation to manage. I always found that when I was one shot behind the leader or tied, it was easier mentally, because you are playing to win the tournament in a direct duel.”

He further elaborated on the difficulty of sustaining a high level of play under constant pressure:

“It’s so easy, even if you’re very careful, when you’re three or four moves ahead, to say to yourself: OK, I just have to keep going like this. And you forget a little that these guys are very strong, that they will continue to make birdies. There will always be one to score 65, so I have to keep my foot on the gas. And I think it’s extremely difficult to sustain over three or four days.”

Experience and the Closing Instinct

The lack of extensive victory records among some of the players who faltered may also be a contributing factor. Conversely, players like Scottie Scheffler, accustomed to managing leads and securing wins, demonstrate a different level of composure.

The recent string of collapses serves as a cautionary tale for those contending in upcoming events. Maintaining focus and avoiding complacency will be crucial as players navigate the pressure of leading on the PGA Tour.

FAQ

• What is Kevin Kisner’s theory about recent PGA Tour collapses? Kisner believes that players are struggling because they are holding leads for longer periods, creating increased mental pressure.
• Who are some of the players who have recently lost leads in tournaments? Shane Lowry, Daniel Berger, and Ludvig Åberg are among the players who have recently faltered while leading.
• Does experience play a role in closing out tournaments? Kisner suggests that a lack of extensive victory records may contribute to the difficulty some players have in maintaining leads.

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