Definition: "Rub of the green" is one way in which the Rules of Golf say, "those are the breaks."
If a ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by an outside agency (caddie, forecaddie, referee, etc.), it is called "rub of the green" and the ball is played where it comes to rest. No penalty is assessed.
Anytime you see "rub of the green" in the rulebook, imagine a rules official shrugging his shoulders and saying, "Hey, whaddya gonna do?"
