Monday, February 18, 2013

Ask Linda #610-Player hits moving putt


Hi Linda,

Playing Stableford yesterday on a windy day, a player’s ball, on the putting green, started moving AFTER he had started his downswing. (Ball movement definitely not caused by the player.) The player, unable to stop his putting stroke, proceeded to putt the ball. In this case he holed the putt. What is the ruling here? No penalty and the stroke counted, or does a penalty apply and the putt have to be retaken from its original (i.e. pre-movement) position?

Regards,
Lou from Australia

Dear Lou,

The putt is holed, there is no penalty, and the stroke counts.

Since it was clear to everyone that the wind was responsible for moving the ball, there is no penalty for the ball moving after address [Rule 18-2b, Exception] or for hitting it while it was in motion [Rule 18-2b]. Once a player has begun his stroke, he is entitled to complete it, even if the ball is moving, provided he does not stop his swing.

If the player had been able to stop his stroke, he would putt the ball from its new (windblown) location. In this case, if he were to put it back and putt it from the original (pre-wind) location, the penalty would be two strokes [Decision 18-2a/7].

If the players are not certain that the wind moved the ball, the player will be held responsible. In this case, he must replace the ball, unless he completes the stroke while the ball is moving. The penalty, whether he replaces the ball or completes the stroke on the moving ball, is one stroke.

Linda
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