Six new PGA Tour rules come into effect, covering fairway relief, pitch marks, and club repairs.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour communicated five new local model rules to players and added a sixth regarding preferred lies. The season kicks off next week with these six new rules at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii. Steven Rintoul, Vice President of Rules and Refereeing at the PGA Tour, told golf.com that these changes represent \”good, sensible outcomes for golf at the highest level.\” The USGA and R&A approved these local rules effective January 1, 2026, continuing the modernization of the rules process initiated in 2019.
New PGA Tour Rules for 2026 Season Opener
Clarifying Penalties for Unintended Ball Movements
Under 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. The penalty is one stroke, and the player is not considered to have played from the wrong place (Rule 14.7a – two-stroke penalty) if the ball movement caused is discovered later. If the player notices the ball moved and does not replace it before playing, they incur the general penalty for playing from the wrong place.
This rule change was inspired by an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, where he inadvertently moved his ball during a practice swing. Officials assessed a two-stroke penalty after reviewing broadcast footage. Lowry accepted the ruling despite finding it hard to accept.
Free Relief Now Allowed When Ball Lies in Another Player’s Pitch Mark
Previously, free relief was only granted if the ball came to rest in the player’s own pitch mark. Now, under Rule 16.3b, players may take free relief if a rules official verifies the ball is in a pitch mark caused by another player’s stroke below ground level. Repaired pitch marks remain unaffected by this rule. Examples include marks fixed by club, foot, or equipment, and pitch marks partially restored by greenkeeping equipment.
This change addresses repeated situations like Lowry’s in the 2025 Open, where his relief request was denied after his ball landed in another player’s pitch mark, affecting his subsequent shot.
\”Out of Bounds\” Applies Only From the Tee
To prevent players from gaining unfair advantages using other holes’ fairways near obstacles, inside boundary stakes marked as \”Out of Bounds\” now apply only when the ball is played from the tee. Previously, players were restricted from playing safely around trees or obstacles near out-of-bounds lines. This adjustment honors the original intent to curb fairway shortcuts exclusively for tee shots.
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