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 sixth regarding preferred lies. These changes will come into force at the season opener, the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii, next week. Steven Rintoul, PGA Tour’s Vice President for Rules and Officiating, told golf.com that these are \”good, sensible outcomes for golf at the highest level.\” He explained that the new local model rules, approved by the USGA and R&A effective January 1, 2026, continue the modernization of the rules initiated in 2019.
Below we present the new rule set and local model rules, explaining the reasons behind these decisions:
New Golf Rule Clarifies Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movement
Under Rule 9.4b, a player will receive a penalty stroke if they move their resting ball and fail to replace it before their next stroke, even if unaware the ball moved or could have moved. However, the player does not play from a wrong place (Rule 14.7a – two penalty strokes) if it is later found they caused the ball movement.
If the player notices the ball moved, does not replace it, and plays from the new spot, they incur the general penalty under Rule 14.7a for playing from a wrong place. Similarly, if it is later found the player moved the ball and falsely assumed they did not need to replace it, the general penalty applies.
This new rule originated from a 2025 Open Championship incident where Shane Lowry unintentionally moved his ball during a practice swing at the 12th hole. Officials assessed a two-stroke penalty after reviewing video evidence. Lowry found the penalty \”hard to accept\” but accepted it without dispute.
Relief Without Penalty Now Allowed if Ball Lies in Another Player’s Pitch Mark
The next rule change applies when a player’s ball rests in the pitch mark of another player. Previously, relief without penalty was only allowed if the ball lay in the player’s own pitch mark. Now, under Rule 16.3b, a player may receive penalty-free relief if an official confirms the ball lies in a pitch mark below ground level caused by another player’s shot. A repaired pitch mark remains treated as repaired regardless of the quality or completeness of the repair, including those repaired intentionally or accidentally by club, foot, or equipment. Even if a greenkeeper has driven over the mark, it counts as repaired if a depression remains.
This change follows repeated incidents, including again Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open, where officials denied relief despite the ball lying in another player’s pitch mark, leading Lowry to miss his approach shot and visibly show his frustration.
“Out of Bounds” Now Applies Only from the Tee
To prevent players from gaining unfair advantages by using another hole’s fairway as a shortcut, inside boundaries marked as \”Out of Bounds\” (often with white stakes) will apply only when the ball is played from the tee. Previously, these boundaries restricted players when near obstacles, sometimes preventing them from chipping back onto the fairway. The new rule addresses this issue by limiting