Six new PGA Tour rules take effect, covering fairway relief, pitch marks, and club repairs.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour informed players of five new local model rules and added a change regarding preferred lies. This brings a total of six new rules starting next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii. Steven Rintoul, PGA Tour’s Vice President of Rules and Referees, told golf.com that these are \”good, sensible outcomes for the sport at the highest level.\” The new local model rules, adopted by the USGA and R&A from January 1, 2026, continue the modernization of the rules initiated in 2019.
Key Updates to PGA Tour Rules for 2026 Season
One new golf rule clarifies penalties for unintentional ball movement under Rule 9.4b: a player receives a one-stroke penalty if they move a resting ball and fail to replace it before the next stroke, even if unaware the ball moved. The player does not play from a wrong place (which carries a two-stroke penalty under Rule 14.7a) if it is later confirmed they caused the movement. If the player notices ball movement but does not replace the ball and plays from the new spot, the general penalty applies. This rule emerged after a situation involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship.
Another change permits free relief when a ball lies in an opponent’s pitch mark under Rule 16.3b, extending beyond previous rules that only allowed relief from a player’s own pitch mark. Repaired pitch marks do not qualify for relief. This adjustment followed repeated incidents including Lowry’s experience at the 2025 Open where relief was denied.
The definition of “Out of Bounds” now applies only from the tee box, preventing players from using other holes’ fairways as shortcuts or relief. This limits situations where players were restricted by boundary stakes when trying to chip back to the fairway.
Relief for immovable obstructions is now allowed on closely mown aprons where putting is a common technique, enabling officials to grant relief when a ball’s line is obstructed.
Additional Rule Changes Affecting Equipment and Relief
Players may now repair damaged clubs on the course using replacement parts carried in their bags, such as spare club heads. This streamlines repairs during play and does not count as carrying an illegal 15th club.
The preferred lie relief area on poor fairways is reduced from one club length (about 46 inches) to one scorecard length (about 11 inches) in conditions like extreme mud, aligning PGA Tour rules with other organizations and promoting fairer play.
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