Six new PGA Tour rules take effect, covering fairway relief, pitch marks, ball movement penalties & 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 the updates are \”good, sensible outcomes for top-level golf.\” The new local model rules, effective January 1, 2026, were adopted by the USGA and R&A and continue the modernization begun in 2019.
Here we outline the new rules and the reasoning behind them:
New Golf Rule Clarifies Penalties for Accidental Ball Movement
According to Rule 9.4b, a player receives a one-stroke penalty if they move their stationary ball and fail to replace it before their next stroke, even if unaware of the ball’s movement. However, the player is not deemed to have played from the wrong place (Rule 14.7a – two penalty strokes) if it’s later confirmed they caused the ball to move. If the player notices the ball has moved, does not replace it, and plays from the new spot, the general penalty for playing from a wrong place applies under Rule 14.7a. This rule arose after an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship where video evidence showed he accidentally moved the ball during a practice swing, resulting in a two-stroke penalty, which he accepted.
Penalty Relief Now Allowed When Ball Lies in Another Player’s Pitch Mark
The previous rule only allowed relief when a ball rested in the player’s own pitch mark. Now, under Rule 16.3b, relief is granted if a ball lies in a pitch mark made by another player, confirmed by a rules official. Repaired pitch marks (intentionally or accidentally fixed) do not qualify for relief. This change also follows incidents like Lowry’s at the 2025 Open where his relief query was denied when his ball landed in another player’s pitch mark.
“Out of Bounds” Applies Only When Ball Is Played from the Tee
To avoid players gaining unfair advantages by using other holes’ fairways as shortcuts, out-of-bounds lines (often marked by white stakes) now apply only when the ball is played from the tee. This prevents previous issues where players were unduly restricted near obstacles and unable to return to the fairway by chipping.
Relief Allowed from Immovable Obstructions on Closely Mown Fringe Areas
If a ball lies off the green but near a closely mown fringe where putting is common, relief can be granted from immovable obstructions like sprinklers or mic holes if they interfere with the stroke line, per new Rule 16.1.
Players Can Repair Damaged Clubs On-Site Using Bag Components
Rule 4.1b(4) now permits players to repair damaged clubs during a round using components from their bag, such as replacing a clubhead on the spot. This improves efficiency by avoiding long trips to the locker room and is