Hitting the Flagstick at the PGA

[AmericanGolfer]

While I was watching the PGA Championship one of the players hit a drive where it hit the pin.  If the pin was not in, it would have been in the hole.  Do you think shots like this should count as in or play it as it is.

[bkuehn1952]

9 minutes ago, AmericanGolfer said:

While I was watching the PGA Championship one of the players hit a drive where it hit the pin.  If the pin was not in, it would have been in the hole.  Do you think shots like this should count as in or play it as it is.

It did not go in so no, it should not be counted as in.  In theory, he could have had his caddie run forward and tend or remove the flag stick prior to playing.  It is a widely accepted idea that the flag stick helps more often than not so not removing it is playing the percentages.

[iacas]

14 minutes ago, AmericanGolfer said:

While I was watching the PGA Championship one of the players hit a drive where it hit the pin.  If the pin was not in, it would have been in the hole.  Do you think shots like this should count as in or play it as it is.

It would not have gone in without the flagstick. It was moving far too quickly.

This kind of mis-perception grows over time, but when broken down scientifically… it's often found to be wrong.

[David in FL]

Are you talking about DeLaet's shot on 14?  It never hit the flagstick.  If it had, it very well may have gone in!  

[iacas]

52 minutes ago, David in FL said:

Are you talking about DeLaet's shot on 14?  It never hit the flagstick.  If it had, it very well may have gone in!  

I think he is, and it may have clipped it, but it caught the right side (from the tee view) of the hole, hopped in the air a little, and still rolled out 10' past or something.

Yes, had it caught more of the flag, it may have indeed gone in.

[dennyjones]

I was watching the US Women's Amateur and the young 13 year old Wu hit the pin on a chip shot that stopped right next to the pin.   Her shot would have run several feet past the hole.  

 

[Rulesman]

Ignoring 2019 for the moment, leave the flagstick in if playing from off the green.