Who is considered an outside influence if they deflect a ball?

In the context of this scenario, an outside influence refers to any factor that is not part of the player's team or the competitive play itself, which can affect the outcome of a play. When an observer deflects a ball, they are typically not part of the game and their actions can inadvertently alter the situation on the course. This is critical in sports like golf, where external factors can impact the ball's path or the game dynamics.

The reasoning here is that observers, unlike players or caddies, are not involved in the competition and thus qualify as outside influences. Their role is to watch rather than to compete, and any interaction they have with the ball would be unintentional and outside the normal gameplay. This underscores the distinction between players who are part of the game and those who are simply observing.