Six new PGA Tour rules take 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 rule change regarding preferred lies, resulting in six new rules starting next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii. Steven Rintoul, PGA Tour Vice President for Rules and Officiating, told golf.com that these are \”good, sensible outcomes for the game at the highest level.\” The local model rules, adopted by the USGA and R&A effective January 1, 2026, continue the modernization of the rulebook initiated in 2019.
Below we present the new rules and local model rules, explaining the reasons behind these decisions:
New Golf Rule Clarifies Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movements
According to Rule 9.4b, a player receives a penalty stroke if they move their stationary ball and fail to replace it before their next stroke, even if unaware the ball moved or could move. The player is penalized one stroke but does not play from a wrong place (Rule 14.7a – two strokes) if it is later determined they caused the ball’s movement.
If a player notices a stationary ball has moved but does not replace it and plays from the new spot, they incur the general penalty under Rule 14.7a for playing from the wrong place. Likewise, if later it is found the player moved the ball but mistakenly thought they had not and should have replaced it, the general penalty applies.
This rule was prompted by an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, where he inadvertently moved the ball during a practice swing. 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 for Ball in Another Player’s Pitch Mark
The next change covers when a player’s ball rests in another player’s pitch mark. Previously, penalty-free relief was only allowed if the ball lay in its own pitch mark. Now, under Rule 16.3b, a player may take relief if an official confirms the ball rests in a pitch mark below ground level caused by another player’s shot. Repaired pitch marks, regardless of quality or completeness, are unaffected by this rule. For example, pitch marks repaired with a club or foot or disturbed by course maintenance are considered repaired.
This change followed repeated incidents, including at the 2025 Open Championship when Lowry’s ball landed in a pitch mark and his relief request was denied, leading to a missed approach shot and visible frustration.
Out of Bounds Applies Only from the Tee
PGA players often tried gaining an advantage by shortcutting or using another hole’s fairway, which involved inner boundary areas marked by white stakes. The rule now states these boundaries count as out of bounds only when the ball is played from the tee. Previously, players were restricted in shot options near obstacles because of out-of-bounds lines, hindering recovery shots. The update intends to discourage fairway shortcuts only from tee shots.
Additional Rule Updates for Fairways, Obstacles, and Equipment
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