Robert Warner of Aiken, South Carolina, incurred no penalty for striking a short putt while still walking toward the hole, golf.com reported following a rules inquiry.
The ruling clarifies that Rule 10.1 governs how a player initiates a stroke. While golfers cannot play a ball while it is in motion, the rule places no prohibition on the player being in motion when striking a stationary ball, provided the stroke uses the head of the club without pushing, scraping, scooping, or anchoring.
Player Escapes Penalty After Dislodged Turf Deflects Rolling Chip Shot
In a separate ruling addressing an inquiry from Cornelius Marx of New York, New York, a player who banged a club into the collar of the green in a fit of pique—dislodging a turf clump that hit a rolling chip shot and stopped it—faced no penalty under Rule 11.1.
Golf.com reported that unless the tournament Committee deems the turf damage severe enough to constitute serious misconduct under Rule 1.2a, which carries disqualification, the accidental deflection stands. The player must play the ball from its new resting position.
| Rule Reference | Action Described | Penalty Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rule 10.1 | Striking a stationary ball while walking | No penalty |
| Rule 11.1 | Accidental deflection by dislodged turf | No penalty (unless Rule 1.2a applies) |
Rules inquiries continue to be processed through the designated rules desk for official tournament and recreational determinations.
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