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 sixth change regarding preferred lies. The season will commence next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii, with these updated rules. Steven Rintoul, PGA Tour Vice President of Rules and Officiating, told golf.com that these are ‘good, sensible outcomes for golf at the highest level.’ The new local model rules, approved 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 their origins:
New Golf Rule Clarifies Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movement
Under Rule 9.4b, a player incurs a one-stroke penalty if they move their resting ball and fail to replace it before the next stroke, even if unaware the ball moved or could have moved. However, the player does not play from a wrong place (Rule 14.7a – two-stroke penalty) if it is later determined they caused the movement.
If the player noticed the ball moved and does not replace it but plays from the new spot, the general penalty for playing from the wrong place applies. This rule stems from an incident with Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship, where he unknowingly moved the ball during a practice swing. Officials assessed a two-stroke penalty after review, which Lowry accepted despite finding it hard to accept.
Relief Without Penalty Now Allowed for Ball in Another Player’s Pitch Mark
The next change concerns a ball resting in another player’s pitch mark. Previously, penalty-free relief was only granted if the ball lay in the player’s own pitch mark. Now, under Rule 16.3b, players may receive relief if an official confirms the ball rests in a pitch mark below ground level caused by another player’s stroke. Repaired pitch marks remain unaffected by this rule regardless of repair quality. This change follows repeated incidents, including Lowry again at the 2025 Open, where his request for relief was denied, leading to frustration.
‘Out of Bounds’ Now Only Applies from the Tee
To prevent players from gaining unfair shortcuts by using other holes’ fairways, internal boundaries marked by white stakes are now ‘Out of Bounds’ only if the ball is played from the tee. Previously, players were restricted near obstacles by these boundaries, sometimes unable even to chip back to the fairway. This change addresses that issue while maintaining the original intent of discouraging fairway shortcuts from the tee.
Additional Rule Changes at PGA Tour: Player Equity Program Expansion
The PGA Tour has added FedEx Cup top 50 players into its Player