World Number One Luke Donald will be looking to take the excellent form he showed last week in Akron into the US PGA Championship in an attempt to finally claim that elusive first major.
The Englishman has climbed to the summit of the world rankings and won three times this year, but without a major title to his name he knows that his golfing CV will never be complete.
"Majors are in this day and age made out to be the biggest deal," he said. "People put a lot of pressure on the guys who haven't won. There is pressure to win them. Sometimes you can go to these events and try too hard.
"You feel a little bit more uptight. Sometimes it's harder to let it go and just play the way you know how to play. There's a hard balance between not trying and putting in some effort to give it your best. It's a fine line."
Donald was second to Australian Adam Scott at last week's WGC Bridgestone Invitational, giving him a boost entering the steamy heat which will provide the backdrop for this week’s events at Atlanta Athletic Club.
He won the WGC – Accenture Match Play in February, captured the BMW PGA Championship and the Barclays Scottish Open in May and July respectively and has had four top-five finishes in majors, including a share of fourth at this year's Masters.
The 33 year old admitted he tries to play a major as just another event even though it remains the missing jewel in his career.
"There's a little added tension, a little bit more anxiety to try and perform well," he said. "You have got to try and focus on what you can control, almost seeing it as just another event. But it's tough. The bigger stage, the way courses are set up, it's harder to just kind of play it as a normal event.
"I haven't won one yet so I don't know what the correct answer is, but I will keep trying all different various ways until hopefully I pick up one of those trophies."
Scorching heat and humid conditions will put a premium on fitness this week, with Donald vowing not to play more than 27 holes in practice for fear of exhausting himself before the start.
"You have to manage energy," he said. "I'll be very consistent and precise with my practice. Playing last week and playing well gives me that opportunity."
