Six new PGA Tour rules come into 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 Vice President of Rules and Officiating, told golf.com these are ‘good, sensible outcomes for the game at the highest level.’ He explained that 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.
Below we introduce the new rules and local models and the reasons behind these decisions:
New Golf Rule Clarifies Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movements
Under Rule 9.4b, a player incurs a one-stroke penalty 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. The player is not deemed to have played from a wrong place (Rule 14.7a – two strokes) if it later emerges they caused the ball to move.
If the player realizes the ball moved but does not replace it and plays from the new spot, the general penalty under Rule 14.7a applies. Similarly, if it later emerges the player moved the ball but falsely believed they did not and should not replace it, the general penalty applies.
This change arose from an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, where he slightly moved the ball during a practice swing but did not notice. After the round, officials imposed a two-stroke penalty after lengthy review aided by video footage. 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 rule change addresses when a player’s ball comes to rest in another player’s pitch mark. Previously, penalty-free relief was granted only if the ball lay in the player’s own pitch mark. Now, under Rule 16.3b, a player may receive relief if an official confirms the ball lies in a pitch mark below ground level caused by another player’s stroke. Repaired pitch marks remain unaffected regardless of repair quality or completeness—meaning marks fixed intentionally or accidentally by club, foot, or other means are no longer considered for relief. Even pitch marks partially run over by a groundskeeper’s mower that are still visible are treated as repaired.
Repeated incidents including Lowry’s in the 2025 Open Championship, where his request for relief was denied after his ball landed in a pitch mark during the second round, led to this update. Lowry missed his approach shot afterward and expressed frustration.