[BoattyGonm]

you just ask if u can puutt out

[kasandrasikl]

When is it permissable to hole out after say a long putt? I've seen tour players attempt a long putt..,leaving themselves about a foot or so, walk up and finish it out. Is there a specified distance to which you can finish it out?
2 feet, 3 feet?

[Numbiydq]

I'd say you can finish any time, unless you are stepping on someone's line and if doing so would bother them. As fas as I'm concerned, as long as you aren't dragging your feet on my line it doesn't bother me. Especially if I have a longer putt and you are showing me the line.

Also, if someone goes ahead and putts out, then they aren't taking the time to mark their ball and then replacing their ball when it gets to be their turn again, which can help the pace of play.

[illignocearia]

When is it permissable to hole out after say a long putt? I've seen tour players attempt a long putt..,leaving themselves about a foot or so, walk up and finish it out. Is there a specified distance to which you can finish it out?
2 feet, 3 feet?

You can always finish out rather than mark in stroke play. As long as you aren't standing on someone's line, the rules specifically allow it. It's not even an etiquette issue. Rules 22-1 and 22-2 both contain the following sentence:

In stroke play, a player required to lift his ball may play first rather than lift the ball. In match play, there is no penalty for playing out of turn, but your opponent may choose to recall the stroke and make you play it over again when it's your turn. See Rule 10-1c

[pobrierce]

Fourputt - Question for you. A friend was playing in a tournament and the other player opted to putt out first, but stepped on my friend's line. Is there any penalty for that or was it just a breach of etiquette?

[illignocearia]

Fourputt - Question for you. A friend was playing in a tournament and the other player opted to putt out first, but stepped on my friend's line. Is there any penalty for that or was it just a breach of etiquette?

No penalty unless it can be shown that it was done deliberately to influence the movement of the second player's ball. Then it's a breach of Rule 1-2 and the first player would incur a 2 stroke penalty. If was done by accident or ignorance then there would be no penalty, and if your friend's line of putt was altered (by scuffing the green or some such), then the damage cold be repaired before she plays her stroke. That is the only time I know of where such damage is allowed to be repaired before one plays. Normally spike damage can only be repared after it will no longer affect one's putt.