Embedded ball

[cliveb]

This hasn't actually happened (yet) - the situation is from a dream I had the other night!

There's a rule that allows a ball embedded in its own pitch mark on the fairway to be lifted and dropped. Here's the hypothetical scenario: The ball is NOT embedded, but in attempting to take the next shot, the player tops it and drives the ball into the ground where it lays. Question: is this now an embedded ball that can be lifted and dropped?

 

[rosecott]

If you drive it into the ground then it hasn't pitched and cannot be in its own pitchmark - dream on.

 

[atticusfinch]

[h=2]25-2/6[/h][h=4]Ball on Steep Bank Driven Straight into Ground[/h]Q.A player's ball lies on a steep bank in the fairway. He plays a stroke and drives the ball straight into the bank, i.e., the ball is never airborne. Is the player entitled to relief without penalty under Rule 25-2?
A.No. Under Rule 25-2, relief is provided if a ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark. The word "pitch-mark" implies that the ball has become airborne.