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 rule change regarding preferred lies. This brings a total of six new rules taking effect next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii, marking the start of the season. Steven Rintoul, PGA Tour Vice President of Rules and Refereeing, told golf.com that these are \”good, reasonable outcomes for golf at the highest level.\” He added that the new local model rules, approved by the USGA and R&A beginning January 1, 2026, continue the modernization of the rules package initiated in 2019.
Below, we present the new rules and local model rules and explain the reasoning behind these decisions:
New PGA Tour Rules for 2026: Clarification on Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movement
According to Rule 9.4b, a player incurs a penalty stroke if they move a resting ball and fail to replace it before their next stroke, even if they were unaware the ball moved or could move. This results in a one-stroke penalty, but the player is not deemed to have played from a wrong place (Rule 14.7a – two penalty strokes) if it later becomes known they caused the movement.
If a player notices their resting ball has moved but does not replace it and plays from the new spot, the general penalty under Rule 14.7a for playing from the wrong place applies. Similarly, if it is later proven the player caused the ball to move but mistakenly believed they did not and needed to replace it, the general penalty also applies.
This rule stems from an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, where he unintentionally moved his ball during a practice swing at the 12th hole. After the round, officials reviewed televised footage and assessed a two-stroke penalty. Lowry found the penalty \”hard to accept\” but accepted it without dispute.
Penalty Relief Now Allowed When Ball Lies in Another Player’s Pitch Mark
The next rule change addresses situations where a player’s ball rests in another player’s pitch mark. Previously, free relief was granted only if the ball was in the player’s own pitch mark. Now, under Rule 16.3b, players may receive free relief if an official determines the ball lies within a pitch mark below ground level created by another player’s stroke. A repaired pitch mark does not qualify for relief regardless of repair quality or completeness and includes marks fixed intentionally or accidentally by club, tool, foot, or maintenance equipment.
Repeated cases, including one involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship where officials denied his relief request after his ball landed in a pitch mark in round two resulting in a missed approach and visible frustration,