Six new PGA Tour rules come into effect – from fairway relief to pitch marks and club repairs.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour informed players of five new local model rules and added a sixth change regarding preferred lies. The season will start next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii, with these six new rules in place. Steven Rintoul, PGA Tour Vice President of Rules and Officials, told golf.com that these changes are \”good, sensible outcomes for golf at the highest level.\” He explained that the new local model rules, adopted by the USGA and R&A from January 1, 2026, are a continuation of the modernization process of the rules that began in 2019.
Below, we outline the new rules and local model regulations, and the rationale behind these decisions:
New Golf Rule Clarifies Penalties for Unintended Ball Movement
According to Rule 9.4b, a player receives a penalty stroke if they move a resting ball and fail to replace it before their next shot, even if they were unaware the ball had moved or could have moved. The penalty is one stroke, and 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, does not replace it, and plays from the new spot, the general penalty under Rule 14.7a applies for playing from a wrong place. Similarly, if it later turns out a player moved the ball and mistakenly thought they did not need to replace it, the general penalty applies.
This rule change follows an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship in Royal Portrush, where a practice swing at the 12th hole caused the ball to move slightly without his knowledge. After the round, officials reviewed video evidence and imposed a two-stroke penalty. Lowry found the penalty \”hard to accept\” but accepted it without dispute.
Relief Without Penalty Now Allowed When Ball Lies in Another Player’s Pitchmark
Another rule change relates to when a player’s ball rests in the pitchmark of another player. Previously, relief without penalty was only allowed if the ball was in the player’s own pitchmark. Now, under Rule 16.3b, a player may take relief without penalty if a rules official determines the ball rests in a pitchmark below ground level caused by another player’s stroke. However, repaired pitchmarks remain unaffected regardless of the quality or completeness of the repair. Examples include pitchmarks repaired intentionally or accidentally with a club, other object, or foot. Even if a greenkeeper’s mower passes over the pitchmark but a depression remains visible, it is considered repaired.
This change stems from repeated incidents, including again with Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship when officials denied his relief request after his ball landed in a pitchmark during the second round. Lowry missed his approach shot and expressed frustration by striking the turf.
‘Out of Bounds’ Now Only Applies from the Tee
Many PGA players have historically sought advantages by using another hole’s fairway as a shortcut or relief area. The new rule restricts inside boundaries marked by white