Outstanding figure in their field (9)
I believe the answer is:
scarecrow
'outstanding figure' is the definition.
'scarecrow' can be an answer for 'figure' (I have seen 'crude figure' mean 'scarecrow' so perhaps 'figure' could also mean 'scarecrow'). I'm unsure of the 'outstanding' bit.
'their field' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'field' could be 'rec' (short for recreation ground) and 'rec' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for scarecrow that I've seen before include "6 [FRIEND OF DOROTHY]" , "he's shabbily dressed" , "Ragged figure in field" , "one deters" , "Figure to deter birds" .)