Is he breaking the rule?

8-2. Indicating Line of Play
a. Other Than on Putting Green
Except on the putting green, a player may have the line of play indicated to him by anyone, but no one may be positioned by the player on or close to the line or an extension of the line beyond the hole while the stroke is being made. Any mark placed by the player or with his knowledge to indicate the line must be removed before the stroke is made.

Penalty for Breach of Rule:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.


13-2. Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing, or Line of Play
A player must not improve or allow to be improved:
    · the position or lie of his ball,
    · the area of his intended stance or swing,
    · his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole, or
    · the area in which he is to drop or place a ball,
by any of the following actions:
    · pressing a club on the ground,
    · moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed (including immovable obstructions and objects defining out of bounds),
    · creating or eliminating irregularities of surface,
    · removing or pressing down sand, loose soil, replaced divots or other cut turf placed in position, or
    · removing dew, frost or water.

However, the player incurs no penalty if the action occurs:
    · in grounding the club lightly when addressing the ball,
    · in fairly taking his stance,
    · in making a stroke or the backward movement of his club for a stroke and the stroke is made,
    · in creating or eliminating irregularities of surface within the teeing ground (Rule 11-1) or in removing dew, frost or water from the teeing ground, or
    · on the putting green in removing sand and loose soil or in repairing damage (Rule 16-1).

Penalty for Breach of Rule:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.