Jeff Maggert’s ball bounces off him after it was deflected by a bunker lip in the 2003 Masters. (Getty Images)

Accidental deflections

If a player accidentally hits himself, his equipment or his caddie, there no longer is a penalty and the ball is played from where it comes to rest. Same goes if the player hits another player, that player’s caddie or equipment.

Players still are not allowed to position their gear or golf carts in such as a way as to intentionally provide a beneficial deflection and doing so results in a penalty, should the ball strike such intentionally placed objects.