This rule in a nutshell: If it’s known or virtually certain a spectator picked up or moved a ball at rest, there is no penalty. The ball is replaced on its original spot, which is estimated if not known.
A tee shot flies offline and bounces in the middle of a bunch of spectators, who are drawn to it like moths to a flame.
It’s the strangest sensation watching throngs of people converging on a wayward shot but, occasionally, a misguided fan will take it too far.
We’ve seen TV footage of fans seeing a ball land in front of them and picking it up. It happened to Rory McIlory at The Open last year.
I don’t know if it’s an absent-minded moment or whether they feel compelled to reach down but, regardless, it has the potential to cause rules headache.
No-one wants that at The Open. But what if it does happen? If a fan can’t help being overly curious how do the Rules deal with it?
What happens if a spectator picks up a player’s golf ball?
Spectators are outside influences and Rule 9.6 says if it’s “known or virtually certain” that an outside influence lifted or moved a player’s ball at rest then there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced on its original spot.
If that’s not known – and it is possible if a player has hit a tee shot from 320 yards away and a fan has picked up the ball and momentarily made off with it – then the player must estimate its original spot.
This rule applies whether the ball has been found or not. So if someone has nabbed what they think is a souvenir and no one’s been able to stop them, it won’t be a lost ball.
Rule 14.2 allows players to use another ball, when the original cannot be recovered, “so long as the player didn’t deliberately cause the ball to become unrecoverable”.
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The real problem comes if no one has seen the incident happen. If it’s not known or virtually certain a ball has been moved by an outside influence, and it becomes lost, the only option for a player is taking stroke-and-distance relief.
While that scenario is rather less likely at The Open with thousands of fans milling around than it is in your weekend club medal, it’s still a good reminder. If you spot a ball lying around at Royal Birkdale this week, just leave it where it is.
Got a question for our expert?
Despite the changes to the Rules of Golf in 2019 and 2023, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. I’ll try to help by featuring the best of your queries in this column.
Spectator picks up golf ball: What do you think of this rule? Let me know by leaving a comment below, email me at s.carroll@nationalclubgolfer.com or get in touch on X.
