[PHOTO: Corbis/VCG]

It’s nearly six years since the 2019 Masters. The tournament, of course, is most memorable for Tiger Woods’ thrilling win for a fifth career green jacket. But Rules of Golf junkies are likely to recall it as well for what happened to Zach Johnson and the rare rules incident he was involved in on the 13th tee. In making a practice swing near his ball, Johnson accidentally clipped it, knocking it off the tee. Luckily for Johnson, there was no penalty since the ball was not yet in play (Rule 6.2b).

Thankfully, the Rules of Golf are fairly friendly in a handful of circumstances when a golf ball is accidentally moved – but not in all instances.

For example, if you make a practice stroke on a putting green and the ball moves, there is no penalty. Just replace it and play on (Rule 13.1d). Another example: there is no penalty if you accidentally move your ball while you are trying to fairly search for it (Rule 7.1). Again, just put it back.

Notice, though, those words “fairly search”. They create an important caveat when it comes to whether you might be in trouble for accidentally moving your ball or not. You see, while you’re not penalised for moving your ball while searching for it, you would be penalised for moving your ball if you are on your way to search for it.

The distinction might come into play in a scenario like this: you pull your drive into a rocky area with high fescue. You think the ball came to rest in a certain spot, but you didn’t see that it actually deflected off a rock and bounced back towards the tee. If you’re 50 metres short of the spot where you plan to search, perhaps trouncing through the fescue, and you accidentally kick your ball, unfortunately, it’s a one-stroke penalty and you have to replace it (see Rules 7.4 and 9.4).

According to the rules, technically you haven’t begun a search until you or your caddie arrive at the area where you think the ball is hiding. Upon arrival, you’ve then got three minutes to find it or it’s declared lost. The clock doesn’t start ticking as you’re walking or riding towards the intended area of search.

If this did happen, it’s obviously a tough break, but it would also be no different than if you made a practice swing in the fairway next to your ball and accidentally moved it. It’s not a stroke, but you still have to take a one-stroke penalty and put the ball back.

MORE GOLF DIGEST RULES REVIEWS