Six new PGA Tour rules come into effect, covering fairway relief, pitchmarks, and club repairs.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour informed players of five new local model rules and added one more change regarding preferred lies, making a total of six new rules effective starting next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii. Steven Rintoul, the PGA Tour’s Vice President of Rules and Refereeing, told golf.com these are \”good, sensible outcomes for top-level golf.\” He explained that the new local model rules, adopted by the USGA and R&A effective January 1, 2026, continue the modernization effort of the rules framework initiated in 2019.
New PGA Tour Rules Clarify Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movement
According to Rule 9.4b, a player incurs a penalty stroke if they move their stationary ball and fail to replace it before their next stroke, even if unaware the ball moved or could have moved. The player does not play from a wrong place under Rule 14.7a (two-stroke penalty) if it is later found they caused the movement. However, if the player notices the ball moved, does not replace it, and plays from a new spot, the general penalty under Rule 14.7a for playing from the wrong place applies. This rule stems from an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship when he slightly moved his ball during a practice swing. After the round, officials penalized him two strokes based on video evidence. Lowry found the penalty tough to accept but accepted it without dispute.
Relief Allowed for Ball in Another Player’s Pitchmark and Other Updates
Another change allows players to take free relief when their ball rests in a pitchmark made by another player, whereas previously relief was only allowed if the ball was in their own pitchmark. An official must confirm the ball lies in a pitchmark below ground level caused by another player’s shot. Repaired pitchmarks, such as those fixed intentionally or accidentally, do not qualify as relief areas. This rule change follows repeated incidents, including Lowry’s denied relief during the 2025 Open after his ball landed in another player’s pitchmark. Other new rules include \”Out of Bounds\” being recognized only from the teeing ground, relief for immovable obstructions on closely mown areas near greens, and players now allowed to repair damaged clubs on the course using parts carried in their bags. The relief area for poor fairway conditions is also reduced from one club length (~46 inches) to one scorecard length (~11 inches), aligning with other tournaments for fairer play.
PGA Tour Expands Player Equity Program
The PGA Tour also announced expansion of its Player Equity Program, now including the FedEx Cup top 50 players. The program has distributed over $1 billion to 200-plus players, rewarding current performance and offering