Marking of ball on putting green

Question
I was the marker for a player whose ball was on the green.
She indicated that she was taking relief as there was a sprinkler head
on her line of putt.  She intended to move her ball to the left.
She then proceeded to measure a hand span with her right hand, the
ball resting in front of her little finger and her thumb marking the
intended spot to replace her ball.
She then raised all of her hand except the thumb, then picked up the
ball with her left hand and placed it in front of her thumb.
I questioned her method and the fact that the ball was lifted without
a marker being in place.
What would the ruling be and would there be any penalty?

Answer
Carol,

I'm curious about the sprinkler head being on the green. You state that the ball was on the green and she was taking relief because of the sprinkler head. Let me know.

Here is the answer to your question.

The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted under a Rule that requires it to be replaced. If it is not marked, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke and the ball must be replaced. If it is not replaced, the player incurs the general penalty for breach of this Rule, but there is no additional penalty under Rule 20-1.

Read further if she did make a stroke after moving her ball without marking it.

If a competitor makes a stroke from a wrong place, he incurs a penalty of two strokes under the applicable Rule. He must play out the hole with the ball played from the wrong place, without correcting his error, provided he has not committed a serious breach (see Note 1).

If a competitor becomes aware that he has played from a wrong place and believes that he may have committed a serious breach, he must, before making a stroke on the next teeing ground, play out the hole with a second ball played in accordance with the Rules. If the hole being played is the last hole of the round, he must declare, before leaving the putting green, that he will play out the hole with a second ball played in accordance with the Rules.

Hope this helps.

Michael Hoffman