RULE OF THE MONTH - March 2024

 

Anger Over a Missed Putt

 

Did you ever miss a short putt, then react by pulling back the moving ball?  How about missing a putt then knocking the ball away in disgust?

 

We've all done it.  And typically we would add a stroke to the hole score and move on.  But what if it happens in a tournament?  How should the hole be scored so that you don't risk disqualification by turning in an incorrect scorecard?

 

Take the case of a player named Jack, who lies 3 and is four feet from the hole. Jack misses his short putt, then quickly pulls the moving ball back to himself croupier-style.  This is considered to be intentionally deflecting a moving ball under Rule 11.2.  The penalty is straightforward:  the general penalty (two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play) is assessed.  Where should the ball be replaced?  Since the original stroke was made from a spot on the putting green, then the ball should be replaced at that spot.  Jack now lies 6 in stroke play -- 3 plus the original stroke plus the two-stroke penalty.

 

On the next green Jack misses a two-footer and instead of waiting for the ball to come to rest he strokes the moving ball in an attempt to knock it into the hole.  This situation is slightly different in that Jack made a stroke at a moving ball, so Rule 10.1d applies.  The stroke counts and the ball should be played from where it comes to rest.  A two-stroke penalty is assessed so Jack would lie 7.  To quote Jack: "Mickelson did it and so did I."  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45gIuSq_kOE

 

As if Jack hasn't learned enough about controlling his temper, on the next hole he misses a three-foot putt for a 4.  This time the ball comes to rest.  But in his anger he knocks the ball off the green and down a hill -- forty yards away.  Here he has a few options.  He could drop from the new position, or he can declare the ball unplayable and take stroke-and-distance relief back to where his missed putt came to rest.  Using the latter option, he would lie 6, but much nearer the hole.

 

None of the above scenarios have a happy ending.  But it helps to know the rules to be able to determine your score.  If you're still unsure what your score should be, check with a rules official before turning in your scorecard.