Do some players actually perform better under pressure — make better shots under extreme, last-minute pressure than they would under merely high-pressure conditions?

The answer is no. Those reported to be clutch players are actually just great players who get more opportunities to make last minute shots, and score at the same percentages that they do in other parts of the game. Also, we tend to remember the great last-minute shots, and forget the last-minute misses.

From the department of “I just link to whatever Kottke posts” is his remark on his memory which could pass for mine on the golf course.

…If you were to ask me tonight what I’d posted to kottke.org today, I doubt I could tell you more than one or two items (out of the seven to nine items I post during a typical day). When I see friends outside of work, they sometimes remark on stuff I’ve posted recently and it usually takes me a few moments to remember what it is they’re referring to.

Relating to golf, I don’t know if this is good or bad, but it seems to work for me. I know guys who can remember can shot-by-shot what everyone in their group did. While impressive, I feel it says something about the ‘mental side’ of their game.

Just thinking outloud here, but it could be that I’m focusing on the next shot/situation/improvement while they’re dwelling (or boasting) on the past.