watching line of putt...

[spidey]

This happens to me often.

I'm standing over my putt, ready to hit. Another player - fellow competitor, I guess - walks behind me looking straight down the line of my putt. First of all, I'm not used to having someone stand there while I putt, so it's distracting (although it's becoming common). Second, I notice the tour players make a point NOT to do that, but they will approach the line of putt after the ball is stroked.

Usually I ask them to move out of my peripheral vision - I don't care where they are if I can't see them. What are the rules that apply to this?

spidey

[Gary Hill]

The Rules that apply to this: NONE

Your only recourse is to politely ask the person behind to move. There is no Rule forcing him to move.

(Your caddie or partners are not allowed to stand behind.)

The first section of the Rule book deals with Etiquette. It states: No one should move, talk or stand close to or directly behind the ball or the hole when a player is addressing the ball or making a stroke.

Golf should be played with common courtesy and consideration for other players and, as you pointed out, does so at the PGA Tour level.

If, after a few appeals for consideration, he doesn't get the message, I would suggest looking for a new playing companion.

(or send him to play with the guy who keeps breaking the 5 irons)