Expert: dan - 9/25/2009

Question
during putting if the player puts his putter in front of the ball on the ground  then puts his putter behind the ball and puts.Is that ok  or is its  penalty for grounding the putter in front of the hole.He does this every time.I think someone does this in champions tour.Thankyou
Hitesh Patel

Answer
Hi Hitesh:
Thanks for asking this question.

Yes. This is O.K.  You may remember that pro Nick Price does that quite often.
I am including some portion of Rule 16 which describe Putting Green.

16-1. General
• a. Touching Line of Putt
The line of putt must not be touched except:

  (i) the player may remove loose impediments, provided he does not press anything down;
  (ii) the player may place the club in front of the ball when addressing it, provided he does not press anything down;
  (iii) in measuring — Rule 18-6;
  (iv) in lifting the ball — Rule 16-1b;
  (v) in pressing down a ball-marker;
  (vi) in repairing old hole plugs or ball marks on the putting green — Rule 16-1c; and
  (vii) in removing movable obstructions — Rule 24-1.

Hope this helps.
Keep enjoying golf.

Dan