Choking. It happens to best golfers in the world. So how can you stop choking and start winning? Dr. Debbie Crews, a Class-A LPGA Teaching Pro and Research Professor at Arizona State University may have the solution. You see, recently Dr. Crews conducted a study entitled, "Who Chokes and When?" that was sponsored by "Dateline NBC."

In a nutshell, by continuing to add mental stress to golfers while they tried to make a series of five-foot putts, Dr. Crews discovered that both chokers and non-chokers have the same amount of anxiety levels as pressure increased. (As measured by heart rate and EEG data.) The difference was found in the way the brain processed this anxiety.

The study discovered that golfers who choke under pressure tend to use the analytical or left side of the brain in pressure situations. For example, they may focus entirely on their shot mechanics or alignment. On the other hand, non-chokers tend to use equal parts of the brain, including the creative right side of the brain that is responsible for mental imagery and target awareness.

So how do you achieve this balanced brain activity to perform better in clutch situations? You practice. So here are several tips you can start doing before your shot to stop choking under pressure:

1. Take several deep breaths to calm yourself and clear your mind.

2. Visualize exactly where you want to hit the ball.

3. Be specific about what you want to happen, not on what you don't want to happen.

4. Focus on the target on your last look instead of on your alignment.

5. Perform your mechanical thoughts behind the ball and stop thinking about them when you step up to the ball.

6. Be comfortable and end with a deep breath.

Keep practicing this mental approach to golf, and you'll be surprised at how much better you'll perform in upcoming pressure situations.