Golfer's target in jeopardy (3)
I believe the answer is:
par
'golfer's target' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to competing as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'in jeopardy' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'PAR' is hidden in the letters of 'jeopardy'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for par that I've seen before include "Norm" , "Standard amount" , "normal amount" , "Rap to get even" , "State of equality" .)