Monday, February 19, 2018

Ask Linda #1702-Putt in match strikes ball outside match

Linda,
Player A and Player B played a match play round with another twosome that was playing a casual stroke play round of golf. With all players on the green, Player A putted his ball, which hit one of the casual player's balls also on the green. Player A claimed no penalty as he was playing match play. Player B argued that since he hit a stroke-player’s ball he should incur a two-stroke penalty. Incidentally Player A's ball was deflected into the cup after the hit and therefore won the hole from Player B. Can you give us a ruling on this issue? Thank you.
Lulu from Massachusetts

Dear Lulu,

There is no penalty in match play when a player’s putt strikes another ball that is at rest on the putting green [Rule 19-5a].

The player in your narrative had the good fortune of a deflection into the hole, but he didn’t have to be so lucky. His opponent had every right to ask that the ball of the player who was not in the match be lifted prior to his opponent putting. A player in any format may ask that a ball in position to assist another player be lifted [Rule 22-1]. If he chose not to exercise that right, he must accept the consequences.

Linda
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