Conference 7.286::golf

    On Thursday, Norman was paired with Mark McCumber and he accused
    McCUmber of touching the line of his (MM's) putt (presumably to
    improve the line). McCumber denied trying to improve the line,
    (such as smoothing a spike mark), and said that he just brushed
    away a bug.  Removing loose impediments is allowed under the
    Rules of Golf. Smoothing a spike mark or making other repairs
    is not allowed, and so Norman refused to sign McCumber's card,
    feeling that McCumber should disqualify himself.
    
    Louise

    My understanding, gleaned from watching the telecast, is that Mark
    McCumber, "squished" a bug with his putter.  There are better ways to
    "Removing loose impediments" which can't appear to improve the line
    of the putt.  Things like, picking it up with your fingers, brushing
    it away with your putter.  It seems to me that Mark McCumber made
    a serious mistake by even appearing to improve his line and that Norman
    correctly needed to point it out, (It is an infraction of the rules to
    NOT point out infractions of the rules.) and get a ruling.  Getting
    bent out of shape is probably out of line, but then he allowed himself
    to be counseled by clearer thinkers.  May we all allow ourselves to be
    counseled by clear thinkers when we're bent out of shape. 

    if memory serves there is a rule that states somewhat to the effect
    of:
    
    	you cannot touch the line of your put with your putter, but CAN
        touch it with your hand i.e. removing sand/rocks/bugs...
    
    don't re-call the rule number...
    
    

16-1. GENERAL

a. Touching Line of Putt

The LINE OF PUTT must not be touched except:

    (i) the player may move sand and loose soil on the putting green
    and other LOOSE IMPEDIMENTS by picking them up or by brushing them
    aside with his hand or a club without pressing anything down;

    (ii) in addressing the ball, the player may place the club in
    front of the ball without pressing anything down; 

    (iii) in measuring -- Rule 10-4;

    (iv) in lifting the ball -- Rule 16-1b;

    (v) in pressing down a ball-marker;

    (vi) in repairing old hole plugs or ball marks on the putting
    green -- Rule 16-1c; and

    (vii) in removing movable OBSTRUCTIONS -- rule 24-1.

24-1. Movable Obstruction

A player may obtain relief from a movable OBSTRUCTION as follows:

    a. If the ball does not lie in or on the obstruction, the
    obstruction may be removed. If the ball moves, it shall be
    replaced, and there is no penalty provided that the movement of
    the ball is directly attributable to the removal of the
    obstruction. Otherwise, Rule 18-2a applies.

    b. If the ball lies in or on the obstruction, the ball may be
    lifted, without penalty, and the obstruction removed. The ball
    shall THROUGH THE GREEN or in a HAZARD be dropped, on on the
    PUTTING GREEN be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly
    under the place where the ball lay in or on the obstruction, but
    not nearer the hole.

    
    	Obviously Norman knows the rules of golf a whole lot better than
    McCumber...
    
    		the Greyhawk