Ducking in on the line (OT)

[Bill_Ryzewski]

I play with a guy who has the habit of lurking near the line of a fellow competitor's putt. After the stroke he rushes in front of the player so he can lean over the line to observe the break.

I scolded him, citing etiquette. His response was; "Mickelson does it".

Was I justified in my behavior?

Bill

[Rich Goodale]

Bill

I see nothing wrong with inching over to get a look, but if you distract the person putting, who is also gathering information (such as speed, how a return putt might break, etc.) after he hits the putt, you are violating the principles of etiquette, IMO

Rich

[Steve Kline]

He "ducks in front of you?" He doesn't go behind you? He goes behind I have no problem. If he goes in front after I said something I stop playing with him.

[Glenn Spencer]

He "ducks in front of you?" He doesn't go behind you? He goes behind I have no problem. If he goes in front after I said something I stop playing with him.

What he said.

A lot of people take a step or two to get a look after the putt is hit. If your guy is stepping in front of your vision in watching your own putt, he is an idiot.

[Bart Bradley]

Yeah...its him not you.  He belongs in the douche bag thread.

Bart

[cary lichtenstein]

Yeah...its him not you.  He belongs in the douche bag thread.

Bart

amen

[John Kavanaugh]

He "ducks in front of you?" He doesn't go behind you? He goes behind I have no problem. If he goes in front after I said something I stop playing with him.

I have learned over time to be careful who I dismiss because their replacement may be worse.  To cast a friend to the side over such a trivial matter reveals a character flaw greater than sneaking a peek at a putt.

[Kalen Braley]

For a game that prides itself on "you against the course" I've always felt this is violation of the spirit of the rules.   Much in the same way that the stymie was removed from matchplay.

I used to do this sort of thing where I would take a quick look from behind the guy after he made his stroke, but then I thought screw it.  While I can still watch the putt from my angle I want to figure this thing out for myself.

Kind fits in the same category with the same rule of not telling your opponent which club you just hit.

[Bill_Ryzewski]

Thanks to everyone for validation.

My mistake was not advising him of the proper etiquette long before the incident.

Bill

[Bill_McBride]

Thanks to everyone for validation.

My mistake was not advising him of the proper etiquette long before the incident.

Bill

How could you have known "long before the incident?"

[Jim Johnson]

I scolded him, citing etiquette. His response was; "Mickelson does it".

To which I would have replied..."And so it's okay because he does it??"

You were more than justified.

[Michael Powers]

It all depends on the length of the putt.  There is nothing wrong with taking a look on the line after the ball is long gone and the player who  hit the putt is not distracted or affected in any way.

[A.G._Crockett]

I play with a guy who has the habit of lurking near the line of a fellow competitor's putt. After the stroke he rushes in front of the player so he can lean over the line to observe the break.

I scolded him, citing etiquette. His response was; "Mickelson does it".

Was I justified in my behavior?

Bill

Though he is a great player, Mickelson also gambles too much (on and off the course), carries 5 wedges and no driver, and tends to hit flares to the left under pressure.  None of these things are especially admirable.

Besides, knowing that the guy is lurking and about to move is enough to distract you from full focus on the putt you are about to hit.  You were well within your rights.

[Sean_A]

I can't imagine being close enough to someone's line that a mere few steps gives me a view from in front of him.  I would find this behaviour bizarre and I don't recall ever seeing it before.

Ciao

[Bill_McBride]

I run into guys all the time that will watch my putt not from directly behind me (because even the biggest ding dongs won't do that, but rather, from the other side of the hole, far past it, usually on the edge of the green (so they can retort "I'm not even on the green", as if that matters).

Me---------------------hole-----------------------------Him

I just stare at them until they leave. 

But they ever try to see how you've aligned your cheater line?

[Jon Wiggett]

Standing behind the player is ungentlemanly and as a player you have the right to request he stops.

[Bill_McBride]

Standing behind the player is ungentlemanly and as a player you have the right to request he stops.

Agreed, either behind or opposite on the line.  I have learned a little hand wave to move that guy on the other side of the hole.  He's more distracting to me than the guy behind you.

[Tim Bert]

I grabbed my copy of "Golf Etiquette" by Barbara Puett & Jim Apfelbaum off the shelf to see what they have to say on the matter:

"Golfers should not stand directly behind one another, expecially on the green.  This is common enough in team events, but normally it's considered a distraction and a breach of etiquette.  Standing in front of someone putting, directly on the other side of the hole, is equally egregious.  There will be times when it is advantageous to closely observe the roll of a putt on a similar line, a preview of your own.  To do so, stand to the side out of the golfer's peripheral vision.  Wait until the ball has been stroked, then and only then ease over to watch what happens.  You're fine - as long as you wait until the ball leaves the putter before sliding behind to take a look."

Despite the disagreement between some posters above, I think we can all probably agree you should never do this BETWEEN the putter and the hole.  If that's what happened, as I read it above, then that is a bit much by any reasonable standard.