Golf balls get dirty. They spend a lot of time on grass, in sand and around mud, and golf balls tend to pick up some organic matter from where they lie on the golf course.

With thick rough like at Winged Foot, it can be hard to identify your ball. But are you allowed to pick it up to make sure it's yours? We break it down.

Well the Rules of Golf have things outlined pretty well for circumstances when it's known or virtually certain that your ball was picked up by someone (or something) else.