RULE 26-1

Posted by @pgabsec Rules In Action 7:31 PM

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I have read so much about the rules over the past 2 months from PGABS Blogs. Playing partners are even beginning to ask me for rule explanations on the course when they have questions as if I am a Rules Expert! I am still a bit confused on the water hazzard rule (yellow stakes), when the ball spins off the green or if you putt into the water as Tiger did in the 2005 masters. If your ball spins back, must you bring the ball back to the fairway:
1) in the same spot where you started; or
2) or at a point in line with the hole; or
3) designated drop area (such as Santubong 17th).

Zainudin Answers" “First let’s look at the options for relief, under penalty of one stroke, under Rule 26-1;
a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or
b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or
c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or(ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.”

You will see that when a ball spins off the putting green, or is putted into the water, the relief available will depend on whether it is a water hazard or a lateral water hazard and, if it is a lateral water hazard, whether there is a place to drop within two club lengths that is not nearer the hole.

If you chooses to drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the hazard margin between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped it would probably be necessary for you to return to the tee side of the hazard and play over the hazard again.

In the Tiger case that you quoted he was certainly permitted to replace the ball back on the green at the point from where he made his last putt (option a above), under penalty of one stroke, but I cannot see how he could have replaced his ball at a better location on the green.”