For the world's top-ranked golfer, Brooks Koepka, getting enough sleep is a top priority. In fact, getting to bed on time was the first thing he mentioned at this year's Sentry Tournament of Champions when asked about the goals he had achieved in 2018.
"On the road, I was definitely in bed by 10," said Koepka.
It is a habit he said he would be sticking to this year, and so far it appears to be paying dividends. After winning two majors in 2018, he has continued his incredible run. Beside his three tournaments wins, including a successful defence of his PGA Championship crown, he was also runner-up at the Masters and the US Open.
Koepka understands that sleep is crucial to his golf fitness and game. So where travel and scheduling allows, he looks to factor in eight to ten hours of sleep a day.
Research shows that the average person needs between seven to nine hours of sleep each night. This is the length of time required to get enough REM and deep sleep. Dr Carmel Harrington, a sleep health expert for Resmed says that it is in these sleep stages where the body and mind do the most repair.
"During sleep, and specifically deep sleep, the body secretes growth hormone which allows for the building, repairing and restoration of muscle," she said.
In a 2017 national netball tournament, researchers wanted to see if sleep quality and competitive success were linked. They found that longer sleep durations were associated with higher final tournament positions.1