my4moles

See it this way As per rule 20-4 the ball is in play the moment you leave your hand. There have been decisions where you can even putt with the marker not removed. Decisions 20-4/1 further has that after replacing the ball and the marker not removed if the ball moves due to wind the ball should be played from its new position. This means the marker in place is of no consequence and the ball is in play the moment you leave it. In pro tours you can watch players to keep aligning as;long as it takes but leave the ball just once.