How To Play Under Pressure

June 2010

Given the level of competition and the sheer difficulty of the golf course, the U.S. Open that will be played at Pebble Beach might not closely resemble the golf the average player experiences. Still, there is plenty to learn from watching the best players in the throes of a major championship, and those lessons can be put to use the next time you play as well. Below is a selection of instruction articles and videos from Golf Digest we hope you find beneficial for your next big test.

Breaking 100/90/80

Laird Small, the director of the Pebble Beach Golf Academy, has been giving ths advice for years at Pebble Beach. They'll work on your course, too.

10 Rules

From reining in your ego to mastering the hybrid, Corey Pavin paves a path to a more enjoyable round on a tough course.

By Corey Pavin

Short-game

Butch Harmon, ranked No. 1 on Golf Digest's list of 50 Greatest Teachers, offers this advice when you're faced with a really long putt.

By Butch Harmon

Anytime a decent portion of the ball is sitting down in the grass, you have to change your angle of attack on the downswing to be sure you hit a solid shot. Here's advice from Ryan Moore, winner of the 2009 Wyndham Championship and the 2004 U.S. Amateur.

By Ryan Moore

3 keys

To hit a lob, you need to keep your lower body quiet and turn your shoulders aggressively -- just as you would in the bunker.

By Annika Sorenstam

To hit a power draw, the club has to swing down from inside the target line.

By Dustin Johnson

On short putts, amateurs tend to have too long a backstroke and then decelerate through impact. This causes inconsistency in the stroke's rhythm and tempo and a lack of control over distance and direction.

By David Leadbetter

A big difference between a good player and a mediocre one has nothing to do with the quality of shots they hit. Better players visualize clearly where they want the ball to go, but just as important, where they're willing to miss. Good golf is as much about having playable misses as it is about hitting quality shots.

By Hank Haney