What happens if you move a divot on the green before putting?

Yes, you can repair a divot on the putting green without penalty. Rule 13.1c allows you to repair damage on the green, including divots and ball marks, as long as you only restore the surface to its original condition.

What counts as damage you can repair

A divot on the putting green is considered "damage on the putting green" because it was caused by a person or equipment. Rule 13.1c(2) lets you repair it by taking reasonable actions to restore the green as nearly as possible to its original condition. You can use your hand, foot, a ball-mark repair tool, tee, club, or similar normal equipment. The key is that you're fixing the damage, not improving the green beyond its original state.

What you can't fix on the green

Not every imperfection qualifies as damage you can repair. Aeration holes, grooves from vertical mowing, natural surface imperfections like weeds or bare patches, and natural wear of the hole are all excluded. Irrigation, rain, and other natural forces also don't count as repairable damage. If the "divot" is actually an aeration hole or just a thin spot from normal maintenance, you have to play it as it lies.

How to repair it properly

Press the divot back into place and tamp it down with your putter, foot, or repair tool. Don't create a pathway to the hole, don't use unusual objects like a water bottle or alignment stick, and don't unreasonably delay play. If your actions exceed what's reasonable to restore the original condition, you get the general penalty (two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play) for breaching Rule 8.1a.

Exceptions that change the answer

• The divot is off the putting green (fairway, rough, fringe) → Rule 13.1c doesn't apply. You cannot repair or move it without penalty. Improving conditions affecting your stroke under Rule 8.1a gets you the general penalty.
• The imperfection is an aeration hole, maintenance groove, or natural wear → These are explicitly excluded from "damage on the putting green" in Rule 13.1c. You must play the ball as it lies with no repair allowed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I tap down a divot on my line of putt?

Yes. A divot on the putting green is damage you're allowed to repair under Rule 13.1c(2), even if it's on your line of play. Just restore the surface to its original condition without improving it further.

What if the divot is in the fairway, not on the green?

You cannot repair or move it. Rule 13.1c only applies on the putting green. Off the green, improving the lie or line of play by pressing down a divot breaches Rule 8.1a and costs you the general penalty.

Can I use my putter to repair a divot?

Yes. Rule 13.1c(2) allows using a club or similar item of normal equipment. Your putter counts, as does a tee, ball-mark repair tool, or even your foot.

What if I accidentally make the divot worse while repairing it?

There's no penalty for accidentally worsening damage while taking reasonable actions to repair it. Rule 13.1c permits reasonable restoration actions. Just don't go beyond what's needed to restore the original condition.

Is a divot from a practice swing considered damage I can repair?

Yes. "Damage on the putting green" includes any damage caused by any person, including the player. A practice-swing divot on the green qualifies as repairable damage under Rule 13.1c(2).