Dear Linda,
Recently, I was playing in a tournament and someone was
putting on the green. I was the only person near him as the other two players
were on the other side of the green waiting to watch the line. As he was
addressing the ball, he placed the face of the putter behind the ball and
accidentally touched the ball. The ball did not move from where it was, but it
did "wiggle." He then took the putter back and putted the ball into
the hole for a birdie. I wasn't sure if he should have taken a penalty shot
because of the fact that the face of the putter DID touch the ball BEFORE he
putted it. I did not know any of the people I was playing with and was not sure
what to say, especially since nobody else saw what I saw.
My question is: should he have gotten a penalty stroke when
he touched the ball with the putter before he putted? I would think that if he
knew he should have said something, it was up to him to be honest (especially
with himself) and say that he touched the ball.
What should I have done?
Thanks Linda... your input is important to me.
Lulu from Boca Raton, Florida
Dear Lulu,
There is no penalty for touching your ball with your club
when you address the ball [Rule 18-2 (i), second bullet]. The ball has not
moved if it oscillates but remains in the same place [Definition of “Move or
Moved”]. The player in question did not breach any Rule of Golf.
Linda
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