Marking position of ball

Question
In a matchplay competition my ball was on the green and several centimeters directly in front of an opponents ball. To allow him to putt first I placed my putter head next to my ball and and placed a marker a club width from its original location (which was a club width to the side)so that he could then putt without any interference. After he putted I replace my ball back to its original position.I was advised that this procedure was incorrect and I have to mark the ball first with a marker then measure with the putter to the side. As the ball was not moved until the new spot was measured and clearly marked I cannot see this as being an infrigement as the ball was not moved until its new position was marked and rules state that you can use a putter head to mark the ball. In this case the putter head was only for accutate distance for later relocation.The ball was later replaced back to its original spot before putting. Could you please advise if the process I did was correct as from what I have experienced it is a common practice. Thank you.

Answer
John,

What you did is a very common practice. I see players do this all the time. However, it is not the proper way to move a marker out of someone's line.

You must first mark the ball with a circular object. Then by using the putter head,line up to an object such as tree, and move the circular object to the toe end of the putter. Continue in this manner until it is out of your opponents way.

You may have accomplished the same thing the way you did it, but it doesn't comply with the USGA or The Royal and Ancient.

Thanks for the question,

Michael Hoffman