A beautifully struck and well-flighted golf shot can sometimes embed in its own pitch-mark on landing, particularly after a prolonged spell of very wet weather. But the Rules of Golf can and do help us out in this scenario, as David Wilson, rules manager at The R&A explains.
A ball is deemed to be embedded when it is in its own pitch-mark made from the player’s previous stroke, and any part of the ball is below the level of the ground. If this is the case, and the ball is lying in the general area of the golf course, you are entitled to free relief.
This is just what six-time PGA Tour winner Lucas Glover encountered on the 13th hole during the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship back in August 2023. Glover’s ball was embedded in its own pitch-mark just short of the green, and the Rules Official was on hand to assist. He was entitled to free relief from the embedded
