https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules/rules-2019/rules-of-golf/rules-and-interpretations.html#!ruletype=pe§ion=rule&rulenum=11
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Rule 11 - Ball in Motion Accidentally Hits Person, Animal or Object; Deliberate Actions to Affect Ball in Motion
Rule 11 - Ball in Motion Accidentally Hits Person, Animal or Object; Deliberate Actions to Affect Ball in Motion
Purpose of Rule: Rule 11 covers what to do if your ball in motion hits a person, animal, equipment or anything else on the course. When this happens accidentally, there is no penalty and you normally must accept the result, whether favourable or not, and play the ball from where it comes to rest. Rule 11 also restricts you from deliberately taking actions to affect where any ball in motion might come to rest.
This Rule applies any time your ball in play is in motion (whether after a stroke or otherwise), except when your ball has been dropped in a relief area and has not yet come to rest. That situation is covered by Rule 14.3.
11.1 Your Ball in Motion Accidentally Hits Person or Outside Influence
a. No Penalty to Any Player
If your ball in motion accidentally hits any person or outside influence, including you, any other player or any of your caddies or equipment, there is no penalty to any player.
Exception – Ball Played on Putting Green in Stroke Play: If your ball in motion hits another ball at rest on the putting green and both balls were on the putting green before your stroke, you get the general penalty (two penalty strokes).
b. Ball Must Be Played as It Lies
If your ball in motion accidentally hits any person or outside influence, your ball must be played as it lies, except in two situations:
Exception 1 – When Your Ball Played from Anywhere Except Putting Green Comes to Rest on Any Person, Animal or Moving Outside Influence.
Exception 2 – When Your Ball Played from Putting Green Accidentally Hits Any Person, Animal or Movable Obstruction (Including Another Ball in Motion) on Putting Green.
For more information on these two Exceptions.
Penalty for Playing Incorrectly Substituted Ball or Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 11.1: General Penalty.
11.2 Ball in Motion Deliberately Deflected or Stopped by Person
If a ball in motion has been deliberately deflected or stopped by a player or if it hits equipment that has been deliberately positioned, there is normally a penalty and the ball must not be played as it lies.
For information on where to play a ball that has been deliberately deflected or stopped and whether any penalty applies.
11.3 Deliberately Moving Objects or Altering Conditions to Affect Ball in Motion
While a ball is in motion, you must not deliberately alter physical conditions or lift or move a loose impediment or movable obstruction to affect where the ball might come to rest.
Exception – You may move a removed flagstick, a ball at rest on the putting green or any other player’s equipment (other than a ball at rest anywhere except the putting green or a ball-marker anywhere on the course).
Penalty for Breach of Rule 11.3: General Penalty.