Hunter Mahan: 5 Ways to Hit Perfect, Pressure-Proof Shots

SITUATION 1
The Drive You Must Land in the Fairway
Don't experiment — fall back on your basics

When I Needed It

I was down one stroke going into the last hole at the 2007 Travelers Championship. On the 18th and then the first playoff hole, I knew I absolutely had to hit a good drive to give myself a chance to go at the pin. I piped both drives and got my first Tour win.

How You Can Do It

Make sure you're comfortable with what you're doing — this is not the time to try out that new stinger you've been working on. Hit the shot you know you can hit over and over again. For me, it's a nice little draw. Maybe yours is a fade. It's important to know your strengths before you tackle a pressure play.

My Pressure-Drive Key

Try to make a big turn and then start your downswing with your legs and get your weight to your left side. When you're about halfway down, you should feel like you're firing your weight against your left leg. The last thing you want to do in a tight match is to hang back on your right side and hit a weak slice.