Linda,
My partner and I were playing in a better ball of partners event (stroke play). As I was getting ready to putt, my partner repaired a spike mark in my line (it was not in her line). Not sure of what to do, we penalized her 2 strokes. Was this the correct application of the rule?
Lou Lou
Dear Lou Lou,
No, Lou, the two-stroke penalty should have been assessed to you. Rule 16-1c prohibits fixing damage to the putting green that might assist you in playing the hole. Fixing that spike mark on your line assisted you, so you incur the penalty. There is no penalty to your partner, since the spike mark was not on her line of putt. Had it been, she would also have been assessed a two-stroke penalty.
The ruling would be different if you were playing in an individual stroke play tournament and one of your fellow-competitors fixed spike marks on your line of putt. In that case, your fellow-competitor would be penalized two strokes [Rule 1-2]. You would be penalized only if you sanctioned the repair [Decision 13-2/36].
Linda
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