How Golf Handles a Ball Moved During a Search Explainer
A golfer, partner, caddie, opponent, or other person receives no penalty for accidentally moving the player's ball while fairly trying to find or identify it. The protection recognizes that searching through grass, leaves, bushes, or other material creates an unavoidable risk of dislodging a hidden ball.
The ball must be replaced on its original spot. If that exact spot is unknown, the player estimates it using all reasonably available evidence. Replacement can require recreating the ball's location under or against growing or attached objects, although moved loose impediments generally need not be restored.
Reasonable search actions include probing, moving grass, or walking through long rough. The exception does not excuse conduct that goes beyond what is fairly necessary and deliberately improves the lie, intended swing area, or line of play. A separate penalty may apply for that excessive improvement.
The result differs from a player accidentally moving a ball at rest outside a search, where a one-stroke penalty often applies. It also differs from natural forces such as wind, which normally leave the ball to be played from its new spot unless a special putting-green rule applies.
No, provided the movement happened during a fair attempt to find or identify the ball.
It is replaced on its original spot, or on an estimated original spot if the exact location is unknown.
Only improvement that results from reasonable search actions is protected; excessive improvement can be penalized.
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