I was playing a Match and my shot landed on the green. My
opponent's shot landed in the green-side bunker. When I went to mark my ball,
my opponent insisted that I leave it and not lift it. He stated that "he
controlled" my ball. (He wanted to use it as a possible backstop.) I was
equally adamant that I was allowed to mark it since it was on the green.
I could not find anything specific to this situation in the
Rule regarding Match Play.
Who was right?
Lou from Charleston, South Carolina
Dear Lou,
When a player believes that his ball at rest may assist
another player, he is entitled to lift it [Rule 22-1]. This Rule pertains to
both match play and stroke play, and is not limited to a ball on the green.
A ball that may serve as a backstop on the green is clearly
in a position to assist your opponent. You are entitled to lift it, and should
do so. If your opponent objects, he can file a claim (which will be rejected by
the Committee when it is reviewed). There is no such thing as one player
“controlling” another player’s ball.
Linda
Copyright © 2015 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
