In match play, what happens if a player or their opponent moves their ball marker?

In match play, if a player or their opponent unintentionally moves their ball marker, they incur no penalty as long as the ball marker is replaced correctly. It's important to understand that in the context of the game, the term "moving a ball marker" typically refers to a situation where a player alters the position of the marker for a variety of reasons, such as to avoid interference or to allow another player to take their shot.

When such a situation occurs, the player must replace the marker to its original position before resuming play. As there is no penalty incurred for the act of moving the marker itself when done inadvertently or for the purposes permitted by the Rules of Golf, this reinforces the principle that players are encouraged to manage the flow of the game cooperatively.

If the marker is accidentally moved, simply returning it to its correct location ensures fairness and continuity of play, aligning with the spirit of match play which emphasizes competition but also sportsmanship among opponents.