Replaying from tee

[DickInShorts]

Played today and one of our group duffed his tee shot into long grass about 15 yards off the tee. Decided to go back on the line which took him to the teeing ground.
He decided to drop the ball in front of the markers and played off the grass.
I said he could have gone back to the teeing area and played the ball from a tee
He said as he had found the ball he couldn’t tee it up again.

Who was right?

 

[SammmeBee]

Played today and one of our group duffed his tee shot into long grass about 15 yards off the tee. Decided to go back on the line which took him to the teeing ground.
He decided to drop the ball in front of the markers and played off the grass.
I said he could have gone back to the teeing area and played the ball from a tee
He said as he had found the ball he couldn’t tee it up again.

Who was right?

You

 

[rulie]

Also 18.1, "At any time, a player make take stroke and distance relief...."
Finding the ball is irrelevant.

 

[DickInShorts]

Thanks all - just too lazy to try and find the relevant rule !