The way pros mark their ball

[ram22592]

I am wondering if any of you have wondered the same as I have. I have noticed, after watching a lot of golf, that many pros on tour (mainly Tiger Woods) simply drop/toss their coin on the green. I have always been one to mark my ball, and take my time doing so, making sure that the coin is right behind the ball, and right on line with the hole.

I was wondering if there is some kind of a rule I am not aware of, like: the ball must be marked, and replaced within an inch of where it was marked, and no closer to the hole.

[klaymon]

This is what I've found. 2008 Rules of Golf:

20-1. Lifting and Marking
A ball to be lifted under the Rules may be lifted by the player,
his partner or another person authorized by the player. In any
such case, the player is responsible for any breach of the Rules.
The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted
under a Rule that requires it to be replaced. If it is not marked,
the player incurs a penalty of one stroke and the ball must be
replaced. If it is not replaced, the player incurs the general penalty
for breach of this Rule, but there is no additional penalty
under Rule 20-1.
If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of
lifting the ball under a Rule or marking its position, the ball
or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided
the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable
to the specific act of marking the position of or lifting the ball.
Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke under this
Rule or Rule 18-2a.
Exception: If a player incurs a penalty for failing to act in
accordance with Rule 5-3 or 12-2, there is no additional penalty
under Rule 20-1.
Note: The position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by
placing a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object
immediately behind the ball. If the ball-marker interferes with
the play, stance or stroke of another player, it should be placed
one or more clubhead-lengths to one side.