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 a change to the preferred lies rule. The season opener next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii, will see these six new rules in effect. Steven Rintoul, PGA Tour Vice President of Rules and Officials, told golf.com: ‘Good, sensible outcomes for the sport at the highest level.’ He added that these local model rules, approved by the USGA and the R&A effective January 1, 2026, continue the modernization of the rulebook initiated in 2019.
Below are the new rules and local model rules along with the background behind these decisions:
New PGA Tour Rule Clarifies Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movements
Under Rule 9.4b, a player receives a penalty stroke if they move a resting ball and fail to replace it before their next stroke, even if unaware that the ball moved or could have moved. The penalty is one stroke, but the player is not deemed to have played from the wrong place (Rule 14.7a, two-stroke penalty) if it is later discovered they caused the movement.
If the player notices the ball has moved, does not replace it, and plays from the new location, the general penalty under Rule 14.7a applies for playing from the wrong place. Even if it later turns out the player caused the ball to move and mistakenly believed they did not have to replace it, the general penalty under Rule 14.7a applies.
This rule emerged from an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship in Royal Portrush, where he unintentionally moved the ball slightly during a practice swing at the 12th hole. Officials used video evidence to rule a two-stroke penalty after the round, which Lowry accepted despite finding it difficult to accept.
Penalty-Free Relief Now Allowed When Ball Lies in Another Player’s Pitchmark
The next rule change concerns when 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. Now, under Rule 16.3b, players can claim relief if an official determines the ball lies below ground level in a pitchmark made by another player’s shot. However, repaired pitchmarks, whether intentionally or accidentally fixed, do not qualify for this relief.
This change responds to recurring situations such as Shane Lowry’s at the 2025 Open, where his ball landed in a pitchmark during round two, but relief was denied, leading to a missed approach shot and visible frustration.
\”Out of Bounds\” Applies Only from the Tee
To prevent players from gaining unfair advantage by using other holes’ fairways as shortcuts, inside boundary lines marked with white stakes are now considered out of bounds only when the ball is played from the tee. Previously, these boundaries restricted shots near obstacles, limiting recovery options. The latest change limits out-of-bounds status to tee shots only.
Relief Granted for Immovable Obstructions on Closely Mown Areas Near Greens
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