Six new PGA Tour rules come into effect – from fairway relief and pitchmarks to club repairs.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour informed players of five new local model rules and added a rule change regarding preferred lies. This brings a total of six new rules starting next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii. Steven Rintoul, Vice President of Rules and Officiating for the PGA Tour, told golf.com: ‘Good, sensible outcomes for golf at the highest level.’ He explained that these local model rules, adopted by the USGA and R&A starting January 1, 2026, continue the modernization of the rules begun in 2019.
New Golf Rule Clarifies Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movement
Under Rule 9.4b, a player incurs a penalty stroke if they move a resting ball and fail to replace it before their next stroke, even if they were unaware it had moved. However, the player is not considered to have played from a wrong place (Rule 14.7a – two penalty strokes) if it is later established that they caused the ball to move. If a player knows the ball moved but does not replace it and plays from the new spot, they face the general penalty for playing from a wrong place. This new rule was inspired by an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship in Royal Portrush, where he inadvertently moved his ball during a practice swing. Officials assessed a two-stroke penalty upon video review, which Lowry accepted despite finding it hard to accept.
Penalty-Free Relief Now Allowed for Ball in Another Player’s Pitchmark
Previously, penalty-free relief was only allowed if the ball rested in the player’s own pitchmark. Now, under Rule 16.3b, relief is permitted if the ball rests in a pitchmark made by another player that is below ground level, as confirmed by a rules official. Repaired pitchmarks do not qualify for relief. The rule change follows repeated incidents including one at the 2025 Open involving Shane Lowry, whose relief request was denied when his ball landed in another player’s pitchmark, prompting visible frustration.
‘Out of Bounds’ Applies Only from Tee Shots
To prevent players from gaining unfair advantages by using other holes’ fairways as shortcuts, inside boundary stakes (usually white) will mark ‘Out of Bounds’ only when the ball is played from the tee. Previously, players faced restrictions using adjacent fairways after encountering obstacles, sometimes unable to chip back onto their fairway. This change ensures the rule’s original intent and offers more playable freedoms during a round.
Additional Rule Changes at the PGA Tour: Player Equity Program Expansion
The PGA Tour also announced expansion of its Player Equity Program, now including the top 50 of the FedEx Cup. The program has already distributed over $1 billion among more than 200 players, rewarding performance and enabling long-term equity stakes. Shares become vested after several years and are