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Bryson DeChambeau said he will take advantage of a new rule in 2019 that allows golfers to leave the flag unattended.
How many of his professional peers follow him remains to be seen.
DeChambeau, winner of four PGA Tour titles and known for his scientific approach to the game, recently told Golf.com he has a shot that he plans to leave the flagstick in while putting – unless he's at the US Open, where the sticks are made of a different material.
"It depends on the COR – the coefficient of restitution of the flagstick," said DeChambeau. "In U.S. Opens, I'll take it out, and when it's fiberglass, I'll leave it in and bounce against the flagstick if I need to."
There has been a debate about whether a flagstick helps or hinders a shot headed towards the hole. But until Jan. 1, it only mattered when a ball was off the green.
The rules of golf did not allow a player to putt with the flagstick in; hitting the stick resulted in a two-stroke penalty when the ball was putted from the green.
But as part of an extensive rules overhaul by the United States Golf Association and the R & A, the rule has been changed. Starting on Jan. 1, players can leave the flagstick when going anywhere on the green.
A long time ago, it was a long time ago, and it was a long time ago. Downhill putts might also see some players
The rule has been used for recreational players and the pace of play issues.
Aim DeChambeau sees it helping him.
"Oh, absolutely," he said. "The USGA's gonna go back on that one, like, 'No! We made the hole bigger!'"
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