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Rules

Rule 19-4

Ball Deflected by Fellow-Competitor

Q. What is the ruling if my ball in motion is accidentally deflected by my fellow-competitor, his equipment or caddie in stroke play?

A. There is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies - see Rule 19-1.


Below you can view videos related to this Rule.

Video
A gust of wind knocked hat off, causing it to blow right past the ball.
After hitting a putt during the 2003 U.S. Senior Open, a gust of wind knocked Wayne Levi's hat off, causing it to blow right past the ball, very close to making contact.
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Ball was intentionally deflected onto the green by an outside agency
In the 1986 NEC World Series of Golf Denis Watson's ball was intentionally deflected onto the green by an outside agency, which in this case was an overzealous fan.
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Company in this bunker during the first round of the 2003 U.S. Senior Open
Bob Murphy’s ball had company in this bunker during the first round of the 2003 U.S. Senior Open… belonging to his fellow competitor, Hubert Green. Green’s ball struck and moved Murphy’s ball then came to rest on the spot where Murphy’s ball had originally been located.
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Tee shot hops over the green
On the Par 3 12th hole of the final round at the 2003 “AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am,” Davis Love’s tee shot hopped over the green… but he got a lucky break when the ball found a photographer’s leg.
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Natural objects
Payne Stewart’s chip shot at the 1991 PGA Championship was deflected by a leaf on the putting green and found its way into the hole. Natural objects – and that includes leaves – are loose impediments. However, this leaf also has the status of an “outside agency.”
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