Dear Linda,
During a match play contest, I was on the green and as I was
taking a practice stroke behind the ball my ball moved, but I did not cause the
ball to move. I waited until it stopped, about one half of a revolution, then
addressed the ball and putted in. My opponent said that I was supposed to have
replaced the ball before putting. At the US Open at Merion, the same thing
happened to a player who called in a rules official and did exactly as I had
done – he played the ball where it had come to rest.
Is there a scenario where the ball would have to be replaced
to its original position? What if I had addressed the ball but not caused it to
move?
Many thanks,
Lulu from Massachusetts
Dear Lulu,
If it is known or virtually certain that you did not cause your ball to
move (whether you have taken a practice stroke away from the ball or have
addressed the ball), there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it
lies. If there is some dispute as to what caused the ball to move, the player
is not given the benefit of the
doubt – she incurs a one-stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced [Rule
18-2b]. In your scenario, your procedure was correct.
The ball must always be replaced when a player is
responsible for moving it. If she replaces the ball, the penalty is one stroke;
if she hits the ball without replacing it, the penalty is two strokes [Penalty
for Breach of Rule 18-2a].
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
