FROM THE TOUR
BALL MOVED BY NATURAL FORCE ON PUTTING GREEN
The combination of slick greens and breezy conditions often forms a tricky duo to play in, and sometimes the wind can be strong enough for a ball at rest on the putting green to move. This is exactly what happened to Gary Woodland on the iconic 16th hole in round two of The Masters at Augusta National this year, as David Wilson, rules manager at The R&A, explains.
Woodland had an 8ft putt for par and as he took his stance, the wind caused the ball to move, eventually rolling back down the slope to around 50ft from the hole.
First, under the definitions of the Rules, wind is deemed a natural force and is an effect of nature, and if your ball moves as a result of these natural forces there is no penalty. When a ball at rest on the putting green is moved by natural forces, the position you play from next
