[Golf Rules... Knowledge Is Power] When a Playing Partner's Ball Goes Into the Hole

Yeawon Lee's First Round at the Korea Women's Open, 13th Hole Situation
Second Shot Hits Playing Partner Seunghee Noh's Ball and Holes Out
Noh Plays from Original Spot, Lee Plays from Where Ball Stopped

Golf is a sport without referees. It is known as a "gentleman's sport," where golfers uphold the rules themselves as they play. The rules of golf are designed to assist players. If you understand them well and apply them appropriately, they can be extremely helpful in managing your score. These are golf rules that weekend golfers must know.

Yeawon Lee, who is currently ranked first in both prize money and Player of the Year points on the KLPGA Tour, created a rare scene by holing out after her ball struck her playing partner's ball on the green. On June 12, during the first round of the DB Group Korea Women's Open at Rainbow Hills Country Club (par 72) in Eumseong-gun, Chungbuk, her second shot on the par-4 13th hole hit the ball of her playing partner, Seunghee Noh, which was already on the green.

Yeawon Lee is teeing off in the first round of the 39th DB Group Korea Women's Open. Photo by DB Group Korea Women's Open Organizing Committee

Noh's ball, struck by Lee's ball, bounced toward the hole and was sucked in from a distance of about 2.7 meters. In contrast, Lee's ball stopped near Noh's ball. Watching from a distance, Lee and her caddie jumped for joy, thinking Lee's ball had gone in. It was only after reaching the green that Lee and the others realized it was Noh's ball that had dropped into the hole.

With an awkward expression, Lee marked her ball, while Noh retrieved her ball from the hole and placed it back at the spot where it was originally estimated to have been, continuing the game. According to the rules of golf, if a ball is moved after being struck by a fellow competitor's ball, it must be returned to its original position, and the ball that struck it must be played from where it came to rest. After this brief commotion, both Lee, who is currently in top form, and defending champion Noh missed their birdie putts from within 3 meters and settled for par.