Placing the ball - rules question

[SubPar]

During a televised European I heard a discussion event about the rules related to replacing a ball on the green after it had been marked. The commentators were saying that once the ball is placed and released it is in play and cannot be touched again. I looked up the various rules that might cover this and it appears that when the ball is replaced exactly where it is to be played at the marker, it is "in play", even though the coin may still be there. These guys were saying that most players think they can pick up the ball and/or rotate it to align a mark or something after it has been placed and released, as long as the coin is still there.

If the ball is "in play" when it is placed(released), is moving, aligning or touching it again a infraction resulting in a penalty? Placing the ball appears to be covered by rule 20-4 which stipulates that once the ball is placed it is in play , rather than becoming play after the marker is removed. In no case can one assume that removing the marker renders the ball in play since that is clearly never mentioned in the rule.

I notice some tour players place the ball a couple of inches ahead of the spot and make any final adjustments and then place the ball on its spot in front of the marker, not touching it again after it is released. However, some players replace the ball at the marker (where it is to be played), continue to read the green and then go back to adjust the alignment of the ball before removing the coin.

I am working on getting a clarification from the USGA and was wondering if anyone here has any thoughts on the subject.

SubPar

PS: On the USGA site this note is included in a discussion of a ball moved by the wind after it had been placed: "It is not relevant whether the player had removed his ball-marker before the ball was moved by the wind or gravity as the player's ball was in play when it was replaced (Rule 20-4)."

[iacas]

I notice some tour players place the ball a couple of inches ahead of the spot and make any final adjustments and then place the ball on its spot in front of the marker, not touching it again after it is released. However, some players replace the ball at the marker (where it is to be played), continue to read the green and then go back to adjust the alignment of the ball before removing the coin.

Couldn't you just argue that when you return to the ball you're actually lifting it and replacing it once again? That's how I think the argument would go.

The ball isn't live the instant it touches the ground, of course - you can move it around a little bit to replace it where it belongs and, in doing so, line up a logo or whatever. If the coin's still there, at any time, you could argue that you're picking up and replacing the ball again. Now obviously if the wind moves the ball while you're off reading the green, then yeah, you're gonna have to follow the rules on that one.

[SubPar]

Couldn't you just argue that when you return to the ball you're actually lifting it and replacing it once again? That's how I think the argument would go.

You can argue a lot of things, but the rule says once the ball is placed it is in play. It would make sense if the rule would say "once the marker is removed the ball is in play".

In a penalty or relief situation, after two drops where the ball moves too far, the player places it on the proper spot and once the official sees it stayed there after released, they say it is "in play". You don't have the option of rotating it or placing it a second time unless it was placed in the wrong spot or it moves. I think 20-4 applies to both situations. This why 34 rules result in a massive volume of confusing decisions and clarifications. The rules of golf are incomplete and confusing and even after reading some of the decisions one still can't be sure what a ruling would be. Subpar