Fore! To Duck or Get Hit By The Pros

Whether you’re a frequent participant at PGA TOUR events or just going for your first time, you must always be aware of your surroundings.  Remember, this is a game where at any point golf balls could come flying out of nowhere from a shank or pull and smack you right in the face.  It almost happened to me at the 2012 Barclays at Bethpage Black when The Greatest of All-Time (Tiger Woods) came within five feet of hitting me on the 15th hole.

Yup, that’s me in the white hat.

With the recent hype about Phil Mickelson always ending up in the strangest places among the fans, I got to thinking that perhaps there’s more to know about the benefits of being struck by one of your favorites.  Now listen, I’m not condoning that you try to get hit, but if you happen to know how to take one pain-free, perhaps entertain the idea?

This I’m not the first to have this crazy idea breeze across my consciousness either.  In a recent blog post entitled How to Avoid Getting Hit by Phil…Or Not, David Feherty breaks down the statistical odds of a fan getting hit by a golf ball at a highly attended event, like the Waste Management Phoenix Open.  Feherty says that although the chances of being hit are infinitesimally small, if you do get hit out there, make sure it’s on the receiving end of one of Phil Mickelson’s shots, after all, Lefty is notorious for being incredibly generous in these situations.

Phil Hits a Happy Fan

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6y24u4AOKU&width=742&height=419[/embedyt]

Rory Ends Up In the Corner Pocket

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDCkqkItMrQ&width=742&height=419[/embedyt]

Tiger Apologizes at The Memorial

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zuvRGanza0&width=742&height=419[/embedyt]
 
So again, we’re not telling you to purposely get hit with a golf ball, but if you happen to be watching your favorite players tee off live and in person, perhaps stand about 300 yards down the fairway to the side where the wind is pushing.  Be careful out there!

Cover Image Via Instagram