Need help with a golf ruling!

[fgsurfcast]

My buddy and I were playing a round yesterday and we needed help with a ruling. We play competitively and follow all rules. Here's the question... When I first started playing golf, I was terrible at reading greens. I always seemed to feel the greens better in my feet than I did by looking at them with my eyes, so I started walking off my putts, from my ball to the cup (on what I thought the path of my ball would travel) to get a feel for how my putt would break. My buddy brought it to my attention that it may not be legal to do that. I had never really given it much thought because I know how people hate when somebody steps in their putting line because it may change the direction of the putt. I do know, however, that it is illegal to feel the ground with your hands in your putting path to get an idea of how the putt will break. I want to abide by the rules, as we play for money (small amounts), and don't want to be cheating him out of money or me out of my score. So, is it illegal to walk off your putt directly in the putting path? Thanks guys.

[David in FL]

I'm afraid your buddy is right.

Decision 16-1a/12 pertains:

16-1a/12

Player Walks on Line of Putt

Q. A player walked on his line of putt. Did he incur a penalty for a breach of Rule 16-1a ?

A. Yes, if he did so intentionally. No, if he did so accidentally and the act did not improve the line.