Watch as Padraig removes his ball mark and nudges the ball. It doesn't seem to do more than wobble. But, apparently someone with a high def big screen ran and paused - backed up - and ran and paused and emailed in the alleged infraction.
Obviously there was no intention of gaining an advantage and no advantage was created. But, Padraig is DQ'd and gone from Abu Dhabi.
If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of placing or replacing the ball, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of placing or replacing the ball or removing the ball-marker.Padraig needs to file a complaint with the USGA to get a specific Decision on this disqualification. As long as the ball ended up exactly where marked (it did) there was no violation of the rules.
Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a or 20-1.