U.S. Open Tips: The Tee Shot on No. 18 at Pebble Beach with Justin Parsons

Pebble Beach Golf Links has served as the backdrop for some of the most memorable shots, battles and finishes in golf history. The closing holes are particularly dramatic and if we have any luck as golf fans, this year's U.S. Open will come down to the very last hole. The 18th hole at Pebble Beach is a 543-yard par-5 that doglegs slightly right-to-left, hugging the contours of Stillwater Cove. The entire left side of the hole is framed by the sea. Just beyond the right hand rough, a road and a menacing line of white out-of-bounds stakes is clearly within reach from the tee. Even the center of the fairway presents a challenge – the lone cypress tree that is rooted there will block out the second shots of players who drive it short and right. No. 18 consistently ranks among the very best finishing holes in the game and it's due largely to the intimidating set of factors players face once they step onto the tee box. We wanted to know how to approach this kind of troublesome tee shot, so for some expert advice, we reached out to Titleist staff member, Justin Parsons, who shares his strategy for this type of shot and a swing thought that you can use when the pressure is on and you need a go-to shot you can rely on. To learn more about Justin and the instructional programs he offers, check out the Performance Center section on the Sea Island Resort website.