Six new PGA Tour rules come into effect, covering fairway relief, pitch marks, and club repairs.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour informed players about five new local model rules, adding a sixth change regarding preferred lies. The season opener next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii, will see these six new rules implemented. 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.\” He explained that the new local model rules, adopted by the USGA and R&A starting January 1, 2026, continue the modernization of the rulebook initiated in 2019.
Below, we present the new rules and their background:
New Golf Rule Clarifies Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movement
Rule 9.4b specifies that a player incurs a penalty stroke if they move a resting ball and fail to replace it before their next stroke, even if unaware the ball moved. However, playing from a wrong place (Rule 14.7a – two penalty strokes) does not apply if it is later discovered the player caused the movement. If the player realizes the ball moved but does not replace it and plays from the new spot, the general penalty for playing from the wrong place applies. This rule was prompted by a 2025 Open Championship incident involving Shane Lowry, who unintentionally moved his ball during a practice swing and was penalized after officials reviewed video footage.
Penalty-Free Relief Now Allowed for Ball in Another Player’s Pitch Mark
Previously, relief without penalty was permitted only if the ball lay in the player’s own pitch mark. Under new Rule 16.3b, a player may now claim penalty-free relief when a ball rests in a pitch mark made by another player’s stroke below ground level, subject to official confirmation. Repaired pitch marks—whether fixed intentionally or accidentally—are no longer considered for relief. This change follows repeated incidents, including one involving Lowry at the 2025 Open where his relief request was denied, affecting his next shot and leading to visible frustration.
“Out of Bounds” Applies Only When Ball is Teed Off
To prevent players from gaining unfair advantages by using other holes’ fairways as shortcuts, white stakes marking inside boundaries will now indicate “Out of Bounds” only when the ball is played from the tee. This adjustment aims to alleviate issues where players were overly restricted when near obstacles within those boundaries, allowing more freedom to play shots from beyond the out-of-bounds markers during a hole.
Relief Allowed from Immovable Obstructions on Closely Mown Fringe Areas
If the ball is not on the green, immovable obstructions generally do not warrant relief. However, if the fringe or green edge is mowed low enough to support putting strokes, obstructions like sprinklers or microphone holes that interfere with play may now grant relief under new Rule 16.1 when officials deem the ball’s line of play is affected.
Players May Now Repair Damaged Clubs Using Spare Parts from Their Bag
Rule 4.1b(4) has been updated to allow players to repair a club damaged during the