Six new PGA Tour rules take effect, covering fairway relief, pitchmarks, and club repairs.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour informed players of five new local model rules and added a rule change concerning preferred lies. Thus, the season kicks off next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii, with a total of six new rules. Steven Rintoul, the PGA Tour Vice President of Rules and Officials, told golf.com: ‘Good, sensible outcomes for golf at the highest level.’ He explained that the new local model rules, adopted by USGA and R&A from January 1, 2026, continue the modernization of the rulebook initiated in 2019.
Below, we outline the new rules and local model rules and the reasoning behind these decisions:
New Golf Rule Clarifies Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movement
Under Rule 9.4b, a player incurs a penalty stroke if they move their resting ball and fail to replace it before their next stroke, even if unaware the ball moved or could move. The player does not play from a wrong place (Rule 14.7a – two penalty strokes) if it is later found they caused the ball to move. However, if the player realizes the ball moved, does not mark and replace it, and plays from the new spot, the general penalty under Rule 14.7a applies for playing from the wrong place. This rule arose from an incident with Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, where he unintentionally moved his ball during a practice swing. After the round, officials assessed a two-stroke penalty based on video evidence. Lowry accepted the penalty despite finding it hard to accept.
Penalty-Free Relief Now Allowed When Ball is in Another Player’s Pitchmark
The next rule change applies if a player’s ball rests in another player’s pitchmark. Previously, penalty-free relief was only allowed if the ball was in the player’s own pitchmark. According to Rule 16.3b, a player may now receive relief if an official confirms the ball is in a pitchmark below ground level caused by another player’s shot. However, repaired pitchmarks remain unaffected – whether repaired intentionally or accidentally, regardless of quality. A repaired pitchmark might be smoothed by a club, other object, or a foot. Even if a greenskeeper mowed over the pitchmark leaving a visible indentation, it’s considered repaired.
This rule comes after repeated incidents, including Shane Lowry’s ball landing in a pitchmark during the 2025 Open’s second round. Officials denied his relief request, leading Lowry to miss his next shot and express frustration.