Six new PGA Tour rules come into effect, covering fairway relief, pitchmark relief, ball movement penalties, and club repairs.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour informed players of five new local rules and added a change regarding preferred lies, totaling six new rules to debut next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii. Steven Rintoul, PGA Tour Vice President for Rules and Officiating, told golf.com the updates represent ‘good, sensible outcomes for high-level golf,’ continuing the modernization effort of the rulebook initiated in 2019 and adopted by the USGA and R&A starting January 1, 2026.
Below is an overview of the new rules and the reasons behind them:
New Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movement
Under Rule 9.4b, a player receives a one-stroke penalty if they move their stationary ball and fail to replace it before the next shot, even if unaware the ball moved or could have moved. The player does not incur a two-stroke penalty for playing from a wrong place (Rule 14.7a) if it is later found they caused the movement. However, if the player notices the movement, does not replace the ball, and plays from the new spot, the general penalty for playing from a wrong place applies. This rule arose from an incident involving Shane Lowry during the 2025 Open Championship, where he unintentionally moved his ball during a practice swing and was penalized two strokes after video review, a decision he accepted despite finding it hard to accept.
Free Relief for Ball in Another Player’s Pitchmark
Previously, free relief was allowed only if the ball rested in a player’s own pitchmark. Now, Rule 16.3b permits relief if a player’s ball lies in a pitchmark made by another player’s stroke, provided an official confirms this. Repaired pitchmarks do not qualify for relief regardless of repair quality or completeness. This change follows repeated incidents, including another involving Lowry at the Open Championship when his ball landed in another player’s pitchmark and relief was denied, leading to visible frustration.
‘Out of Bounds’ Applies Only from the Tee
To prevent players from gaining undue advantage by using other holes’ fairways as shortcuts, ‘out of bounds’ boundaries marked by white stakes now apply only if the ball is played from the tee. Previously, players were restricted by these boundaries even mid-hole, limiting their shot options near obstacles like trees. This adjustment focuses ‘out of bounds’ penalties solely on tee shots.
Relief for Immovable Obstructions on Closely Mown Areas
If a ball isn’t on the green, immovable obstructions generally do not entitle a player to relief under Rule 16.1. However, when the collar or closely mown area around the green allows putting-like strokes, immovable obstructions such as sprinklers or microphone holes can hinder the stroke. Officials may now grant relief in such cases when the ball lies on the putting line.
On-the-Spot Club Repairs Using Parts from the Bag
Rule 4.1b(4) has been updated so players can repair damaged clubs on the course using components