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Well that was timely, the USGA posted this today regarding a recent query on another site.
United States Golf Association - USGA
Relief for an embedded ball is allowed anywhere in the general area. You’ll note there is an exception to Rule 16.3a(1) that relief under Rule 16.3b is not allowed when the ball is embedded in sand in a part of the general area that is not cut to fairway height or less. In the case you describe, the ball happens to be in an area cut to fairway height, so as long as it meets the requirements for being embedded per Rule 16.3a(2), relief is allowed (even if it’s embedded in a divot or in a sand-filled divot).
United States Golf Association - USGA
Relief for an embedded ball is allowed anywhere in the general area. You’ll note there is an exception to Rule 16.3a(1) that relief under Rule 16.3b is not allowed when the ball is embedded in sand in a part of the general area that is not cut to fairway height or less. In the case you describe, the ball happens to be in an area cut to fairway height, so as long as it meets the requirements for being embedded per Rule 16.3a(2), relief is allowed (even if it’s embedded in a divot or in a sand-filled divot).
statistics: Posted by dormie1360 — 14 minutes ago