Is this putt legal?

[rfg]

You are standing on the other side of the hole with feet
straddling the extended line of putt and stroke the ball
with a pull type motion.

Stance is O.K. because line of putt does not extend past the
hole.

Stroke motion is questionable. Scrapping motion is clearly illegal
but is also arguable.

Saw this Monday but didn't call it.

[kewarken]

Rule 16.1e. Standing Astride or on Line of Putt
The player must not make a stroke on the putting green from a stance astride, or with either foot touching, the line of putt or an extension of that line behind the ball.

[LobWedge]

Rule 16.1e. Standing Astride or on Line of Putt
The player must not make a stroke on the putting green from a stance astride, or with either foot touching, the line of putt or an extension of that line behind the ball.

You have to read carefully kewarken. This applies to the line from the hole through and behind the ball. rfg's player is standing on the other side of the hole opposite the ball so the line is not in question. If I were making that call, my money would be on a 2 stroke penalty for scraping or "raking" motion of the club towards the body. Remember as well that its the "motion" not whether the putter is actually scraping the surface of the green.

[kewarken]

Ah yes...missed the part about being on the other side of the hole. But if a stroke is defined as:

"... the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke.

Then the only way this would be illegal is if he didn't actually strike the ball but rather "pushed, scraped or spooned" it (14-1). I couldn't find any rule against standing on the other side so as long as a fair hit was made I think that this would be legal.

cheers,

Kris