penalty for pressing a club into the grass behind ball causing ball to rotate but not move

Question
During the Hope a closeup showed a players wedge being pressed into the grass behind the ball during address.  The ball clearly moved but seemed return to the original position.  Can you press down on thick grass behind the ball during address?  If while pressing down on the grass the ball rotates but does not change its position is there a penalty?  It seems to me that pressing down on the grass behind the ball would tend to improve your lie by causing less grass to be caught between the club and the ball during the actual process of striking the ball.  Thanks.

Answer
Hello Chuck,

I watched the tournament but didn't see the instance you described.  It's an interesting question and the answer has everything to do with the facts.  A ball that rotates or oscillates but returns to its original position is deemed (by the Rules) as not to have moved.  A ball that comes to rest in a different position is deemed to have moved.  That could mean the ball simply moves farther down in the grass.  It doesn't have to move to a different location across the ground.  From your description, and based upon the definitions in the Rules, I gather that the ball didn't move.

Regarding the placement of the clubhead behind the ball...it's a little more of a judgement issue.  A player has the right to address the ball and place his/her club behind the ball in doing so.  It is natural that some grass, in certain situations will be altered in that process.  The Rules allow for that.  A player is not restricted or forced to hover the club above the grass when playing a shot through the green.  Only in a hazard do the Rules prohibit grounding one's club.

But there is a limit.  If a player is abusing this situation by pressing down hard on the grass behind the ball, it could be a penalty.  It's the kind of penalty that is hard to call because it has to do with intent, and that's difficult to determine in many cases.  The pressing down of the grass would have to be very blatant and obvious for most rules officials to call.  It would be difficult for me to imagine a tour player being so blatant.

One final word... I find rules questions interesting and I talk with my golf friends about situations similar to the one you described from time to time.  But I believe that the PGA Tour should not accept calls from TV viewers regarding rules infractions they see or think they see.  If a fellow competitor sees something or an official observer or rules official sees something that is questionable, they can bring it to the player's attention and deal with it.  Tour players call most penalties on themselves.  It's the best sport in the world in terms of the players playing fairly, by the Rules.  No player I know of wants to win a tournament if there is any doubt about whether he/she played by the Rules.

I hope I've answered your question.  

Sincerely,

Paul Dolman
PGA Golf Professional