What should be the baseline reference for evaluating tournament performance?

Using information on past tournaments as a baseline reference for evaluating tournament performance offers a comprehensive view that incorporates various elements such as course conditions, weather factors, the strength of the field, and scoring trends over time. This historical context allows for a better understanding of what constitutes a strong performance in a specific tournament setting.

Analyzing past tournaments helps identify patterns, such as which types of players perform well or the average scores that lead to success. It also enables comparisons across different years and formats, giving insight into how performances may vary under different circumstances. This foundational knowledge is crucial for setting realistic benchmarks and expectations for current players based on historically established results.

While considering previous winners' scores can provide a snapshot of success, it may not fully account for evolving competitive dynamics. Current player rankings offer insight into a player's form but do not reflect the unique challenges that a particular tournament may present. Sponsor feedback is valuable for operational and promotional aspects, but it does not serve as a quantitative measure of performance in a competitive sense. Together, these elements contribute to understanding tournament performance, but historical data from past tournaments stands out as the most relevant and informative reference point.