Opponents watching the Putting Line

just a query here, am i correct in believing that when a player is about to make his putting stroke on the green, no player, his partner or his opponents or any caddie is permitted to stand on or close to the extension of the putting line until after the stroke is played.

i was of the understanding that after the stroke had been made you were able to start placing your ball to take your stroke, so as long as you were not on the line at the time the stroke was made you are perfectly within the rules to start making your way to your marker.

I have seen it a few times on TV were one player has lined his putt up and made his stroke and as soon as he has made his stroke his playing partner has started placing his ball with the aim of getting an insight as to the line of the putt, not breaking the rules but gaining an advantage.

Are you allowed to look down the line if you are standing off the green? Most greens on the tour will have a spectator on that line. How far away from the ball is ok ? Is it rules or etiquete.

Dave CAC handed Geordie.

This one is down to etiquette. There is no ruling (that I can find on the iPhone app!!) that refers to players standing behind the player when making a stroke. It states under etiquette:

No Disturbance or Distraction

Players should not stand close to or directly behind the ball, or directly behind the hole, when a player is about to play.

On The Putting Green

On the putting green, players should not stand on another player's line of putt or, when he is making a stroke, cast a shadow over his line of putt.

Matthew,

Just been on the R&s site & there is a rule 14.2 - Assistance which states.

In making a stroke, a player must not:
a. Accept physical assistance or protection from the elements; or

b. Allow his caddie, his partner or his partner's caddie to position himself on or close to an extension of the line of play or the line of putt behind the ball.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-1 or 14-2:
Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

There is also another one which you could try to invoke;

rule/decision (33-7/8) that says that if a player “shows a significant disregard for an aspect of the Etiquette Section”, i.e., intentionally distracting someone…, that disqualification by the committee may occur.

I think this may refer to the original question??

This is true...  I misread the original post...I didnt not look at the rule of striking the ball. 

However, from the way that is worded, there is nothing stopping an opponent from standing directly behind the ball, and there is no penalty for this.

Matthew,

depends on how far you want to take the rule I mentioned,

rule/decision (33-7/8) that says that if a player “shows a significant disregard for an aspect of the Etiquette Section”, i.e., intentionally distracting someone…, that disqualification by the committee may occur.