After several high-profile incidents in professional tournaments, the rule penalizing accidental movement of the ball on the green has been revised to promote fairer and smoother play.
The controversy reached a peak with Dustin Johnson, who was penalized for allegedly moving the ball while preparing his shot on the green. The debate was intense: did the ball move because of his action, or was it simply the wind? Incidents like this exposed the shortcomings of the original rule, which failed to clearly distinguish between natural forces—like wind or slope—and accidental movements caused by the player while setting up a shot.
Professionals demanded fairness: penalties like these were not only unjust but also disrupted the flow of play. As a result, a local rule has now been approved that completely removes penalties for accidental ball movement on the green, as long as the ball has been properly marked and replaced.
Rule 9 now governs the movement of a ball at rest, while Rule 13.1d introduces a specific exception for the green: if the ball moves accidentally due to the player, caddie, or equipment, there is no penalty, and the ball is replaced in its original position.
With this update, professional golf aims to balance fairness and smooth play, reducing unfair penalties and giving players a more predictable and less frustrating experience.