Six new PGA Tour rules come into effect – from fairway relief and pitch marks to club repairs.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour informed players of five new local model rules and added a change regarding preferred lies, bringing a total of six new rules starting next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii. Steven Rintoul, PGA Tour’s Vice President of Rules and Competition, told golf.com these are \”good, sensible outcomes for top-level golf\” and that the changes extend the modernization initiated in 2019 by USGA and R&A effective January 1, 2026.
Below is an overview of the new rules and the rationale behind them:
New Golf Rule Clarifies Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movement
Under Rule 9.4b, a player incurs a penalty stroke if they move their stationary ball but fail to replace it before the next stroke and were unaware the ball had moved or could have moved. The penalty is one stroke, not two, since the player did not play from a wrong place under Rule 14.7a. However, if a player is aware 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 change was prompted by an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship, where video evidence showed he inadvertently moved his ball during a practice swing and was assessed a two-stroke penalty after the round.
Penalty-Free Relief Now Allowed for Ball Resting in Another Player’s Pitch Mark
Previously, relief without penalty was only permitted if a ball rested in its own pitch mark. Now, per Rule 16.3b, players can claim relief without penalty if their ball rests in a pitch mark below ground level made by another player, as determined by a rules official. Pitch marks that have been repaired intentionally or accidentally, or those affected by greenkeeper activity, do not qualify for this relief. This adjustment follows repeated incidents including another involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship.
‘Out of Bounds’ Applies Only From the Tee Going Forward
To prevent players from gaining an advantage by using another hole’s fairway as a shortcut, ‘Out of Bounds’ will now only apply when the ball is played from the tee. This change addresses difficulties players faced previously when lateral boundaries restricted recovery shots near hazards or trees. The rule aims to discourage using off-limits areas after the tee shot but allows more freedom for subsequent shots.
Additional Rule Changes on Obstacles, Club Repairs, and Relief Areas
Players may now receive relief from immovable obstructions on closely mown aprons or fringe areas if the obstruction interferes with the ball’s line on a putting stroke. Club rule 4.1b(4) allows players to repair damaged clubs on the spot during a round using components carried in their bags, such as replacement club heads, improving efficiency without breaking the 14-club limit. Finally, the PGA Tour is reducing the relief area in preferred lies from one club length (approximately 46 inches) to one scorecard length (approximately 11 inches) for fairer competition under poor fairway conditions.