golf rule questions

[doublesuited77]

here is the situation. A's ball is about 9 yards in front of B's ball in the fairway. B hits his shot and takes a muddy divot which lands on A's Ball and slightly moves the ball.

Here are the questions-- After the divot is removed, Can A replace his ball? Can he clean it?

[lamebums]

I'd say that Player B was an outside agency, but it could also be taken as a rub of the green. Any rules honcho here who knows exactly how it goes? (I'd say the former - interpretation of the rules can save you three strokes a round, guaranteed).

[iacas]

here is the situation. A's ball is about 9 yards in front of B's ball in the fairway. B hits his shot and takes a muddy divot which lands on A's Ball and slightly moves the ball.

I believe rule 18-4 covers you:

18: Ball at Rest Moved 18-4: By Fellow-Competitor, Caddie or Equipment in Stroke Play If a fellow-competitor, his caddie or his equipment moves the player’s ball, touches it or causes it to move, there is no penalty. If the ball is moved, it must be replaced. (Playing a wrong ball — see Rule 15-3.)

I believe you can re-create the lie you had. I'm not entirely certain on the cleaning procedure, but it's unlikely you get to clean it unless a big blob of mud that wasn't there before is now stuck to your ball.

I quickly scanned the Decisions list and didn't see much that applied.

[smlxl]

I think that the answer is "yes" on replacing it and cleaning it. Equity and being entitled to the lie you got when your shot finished seem to apply, though I couldn't spot a decision that addresses this specific condition... The separated divot seems to be an outside agency in this situation -- though it's a loose impediment when at rest. From

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/rules_of_golf.html :

18-1/8 Ball Moved by Stone Dislodged by Partner’s or Opponent’s Stroke Q. In match play, a player played a stroke and dislodged a large stone. The stone struck his partner’s or an opponent’s ball which was lying about four yards ahead and moved it. What is the ruling? A. The stone was an outside agency and Rule 18-1 applies. The partner or opponent must replace his ball. In the circumstances, the player should not be held to have moved the ball. Accordingly, Rules 18-2a(i) and 18-3b are not applicable and no penalty is incurred.

13-2/8.5 Player’s Lie Affected by Sand from Partner’s, Opponent’s or Fellow-Competitor’s Stroke from Bunker Q. A’s ball is on the apron between the green and a bunker. A’s partner, opponent or fellow-competitor (B) plays from the bunker and deposits sand on and around A’s ball. Is A entitled to any relief? A. Yes. A is entitled to the lie and line of play he had when his ball came to rest. Accordingly, in equity (Rule 1-4) he is entitled to remove the sand deposited by B’s stroke and lift his ball and clean it, without penalty.