Okay,
so how does the rule apply to Harrington? He removed his marker and the ball moved, then addressed the ball, then executed the stroke. He would still be penalized under the rule change. The rule change is specific to a ball rotating, AFTER address. Just as before, if Paddy had noticed that his ball had not returned to where it original lay, the group would establish where the original spot was, he would replace, remark, and start his routine over again. No penalty
Secondly, never did I comment on Paddy at the Masters. Here is a quote from him regarding the rule
"Every time the wind blows, I am worried that my ball is going to move and I am worried about grounding my putter, distracting me from trying to hole my putt," Really Dale? Those are his words! He grew up playing like that, by all accounts he should have the most mental strength out of anyone to battle the elements, settle himself, and hit the shot. Not be distracted by the slight change in set up of, not grounding your club. I mean really!!! All you have to do is not ground the club, and the ball can more a million yards, and there is no penalty. Battling the elements is golf, and this total underhands the mental essence required to play the REAL game.
Play the ball as it lies, and if you cause it to move, ANYWHERE, that will be a stroke. Again, there are rules that have been added to protect a player, through no fault of his own, such as when a player REPLACES his ball on the green, the ball moves while the player is walking around the hole, he is allowed to replace to the original resting spot, no penalty. However, (and in the case of paddy) if the player MISTAKENLY, plays his stroke with out returning the ball to its original spot, than a penalty will ensue. Exactly what happened to Paddy, he didn't know the ball had moved, played his shot, someone called in. Again, I wasn't even referring to that. It was unlucky that no one in the group saw it move, because as rub of the green goes, no penalty would have been assessed and there would have been no penalty strokes needed. No fault of anyone's. Paddy should be more upset that they allow viewers to call in like they do, not at the rule.
And again, I wasn't even talking about the Masters. I was referring to the quote. And I will spell every word wrong if I need to be as long as I am expressed as I see fit. And my expression is that this rule is classic! The game is too hard, so lets make it a little easier for everyone!!!!
LOL!!!!!!! DONT GROUND YOUR PUTTER IN THE WIND....DUH!