Hi Linda,
Playing in a four-ball Stableford, Player A hits a tee shot
into the light rough next to the fairway where it is visible. Player B’s drive
is in the heavy rough adjacent and takes some finding. In the interim, a player
from the opposition (Player C), presumably thinking A has played, picks up A’s
ball and pockets it. Player A returns to play his second shot, having found B’s
ball, and surprisingly, A’s ball is now absent from the light rough where it
was moments before! Player C acknowledges having picked up Player A’s ball and
replaces it. Player A plays to the green and marks, cleans the ball. It is not
A’s ball. The balls have been switched, and A has now played the wrong ball
through no fault of his own.
What is the penalty situation?
Player C incurs a one-stroke penalty for moving the fellow
competitor’s ball?
Player A incurs a two-stroke penalty for playing the wrong
ball?
Lou from Perth, Australia
Dear Lou,
There is no penalty to either player.
Player C incurs no penalty for lifting Player A’s ball. There
is no penalty in stroke play for moving a fellow competitor’s ball [Rule 18-4].
Player A does not incur a penalty for playing a wrong ball.
He did not authorize Player C to lift his ball, so he is not penalized for any
breach of the Rules related to this unauthorized lifting [Decision 20-1/5].
Linda
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