Rules Center Balls Together in a Bunker Bunker Buddies

At the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open, Will Zalatoris and Luke List took off in a playoff at Torey Pines to determine a winner. Both players hit 300 yard drives off the tee and ended up in the same bunker just a mere few inches apart. Talk about a way to remain toe-to-toe with your competitor.. Though this situation may not hapen often it can and does happen. List’s ball was plugged, while Zalatoris’ sat up on the sand, slightly ahead.

There was a moment when it could be heard that Zalatoris asked List if he wanted him to mark his ball. List hit without Zalatoris marking his ball because r egardless of what Zalatoris may have wanted, the decision was ultimately up to List. Once List hit his ball, Zalatoris’ caddie then stepped forward to rake the bunker, carful not to move or alter the lie of his ball, while also recreating the original lie had List’s ball not been there. All of this took place under the supervision of the Rules Committee to ensure that procedures were followed corectly.

John further explains the reasoning behind each step taken -->

Dear John: How should two players handle things when their approach shots wind up two inches apart in a bunker, one in front of the other?

- SaharaAndGobi

Dear SaharaAndGobi: Carefully. Things may get complicated as several rules are involved. Further, some aspects differ between stroke play and match play.

Stroke Play

Let’s say player A’s ball is two inches behind player B’s ball. Either player may play first (players decide; they just can’t agree to play out of turn to give one of them an advantage; Rules 6.4b(1) and 1.3b(1); general penalty). Further, let’s assume that A will play first. A and B should study the spot and lie of B’s ball -- because it’s going to get messed up!

In this case, B should wait for A to ask, “Please lift and mark your ball because it interferes with my shot” (Rule 15.3b). [If B jumps the gun and lifts their ball before being asked by A, B will get a one stroke penalty for moving their ball at rest (Rule 15.3b(2))]. After A asks B to move their (B’s) ball, B must mark the ball to one side with a tee, maybe a clubhead-length or two (like on the putting green; Clarification 15.3/1). Player B may now lift but not clean their ball (recommended that player place the ball aside on the ground or hold the ball between their thumb and forefinger in pincer fashion until ready to replace; Rules 15.3b(2)).

Player A is now clear to play. If A’s shot alters B’s lie (very likely), B must replace their ball in a recreated lie (partially embedded if necessary) (Rule 14.2d). Player B or anyone else may rake the bunker to remove A’s footprints and splash mark (Rule 8.1d(1)). Player B may then play.

But, what if, instead, A arrives at the bunker, just tromps in and plays their ball, without asking B to lift their ball, and in the process moves B’s ball? In stroke play, there is no penalty to either player - A plays their ball as it lies; B replaces their ball (estimate spot if necessary), placing it in the recreated lie and smoothing the area distrubed by A. If B’s ball wasn’t moved (e.g., just partially covered with sand because of A’s shot), B may mark and lift their ball, recreate the original lie, and place the ball in the recreated lie.

Match Play

Largely the same, except that A must play first (farther away; Rule 6.4a(1)).

What happens in match play if player A arrives at the bunker (A’s ball lies two inches behind B’s, walks in and plays their ball, and in the process moves B’s ball? Player A still plays the ball as it lies but A incurs a one-stroke penalty (Rule 9.5b) for moving B’s ball, as it was reasonably foreseeable that A’s shot would move B’s ball. There is no penalty to B. B gets to restore the messed-up area and replace their ball (estimate spot if necessary) in a recreated lie.