The USGA and R&A have instituted a local rule that will eliminate the penalty for accidentally causing the ball to move on the green.

You may remember that the controversy of the penalty for moving the ball on the green came to a head during the final round of the 2016 U.S. Open when Dustin Johnson had been ruled (incorrectly) to have caused his ball to move after taking practice strokes adjacent to the ball, but had not yet addressed the ball.  Johnson, and all other contenders, played with the knowledge that an infraction may have taken place, but the USGA did not make an official ruling on the penalty for a number of holes, during which time the players were not entirely sure of their position on the leaderboard.

The USGA and R&A instituted this local rule, eliminating the penalty, to have it applied until they can update the official rules of golf.

Here is the new “local rule”, and you can read more about this at Golf.com:

When a player’s ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent, or any of their caddies or equipment.

The moved ball or ball-marker must be replaced as provided in Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1.

This Local Rule applies only when the player’s ball or ball-marker lies on the putting greens and any movement is accidental. 

Note: If it is determined that a player’s ball on the putting green was moved as a result of wind, water or some other natural cause such as the effects of gravity, the ball must be played as it lies from its new location. A ball-marker moved in such circumstances is replaced.