Six new PGA Tour rules come into effect—ranging from fairway relief and pitchmark changes to on-the-spot club repairs.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour announced five new local model rules to players, adding another change regarding preferred lies. This brings the total to six new rules starting next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii. Steven Rintoul, PGA Tour Vice President of Rules and Officiating, told golf.com these are \”good, sensible outcomes for golf at the highest level,\” describing the changes as a continuation of the modernization of the rulebook initiated in 2019 and adopted by the USGA and R&A from January 1, 2026.
Below we present the new rules along with the reasoning behind these decisions:
New Rule Clarifies Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movement
According to Rule 9.4b, a player receives a penalty stroke if they move their stationary ball and fail to replace it before their next stroke, even if unaware the ball had moved or could have moved. However, the player is not deemed to have played from a wrong place (Rule 14.7a – two strokes) if it becomes known they caused the ball to move. If the player notices the ball moved and does not replace it but plays from the new position, the standard penalty for playing from the wrong place applies. This rule was inspired by an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship, where he inadvertently moved his ball during a practice swing and subsequently received a two-stroke penalty after video review, a decision he accepted despite initial difficulty.
Free Relief Now Allowed When Ball Lies in Another Player’s Pitchmark
Previously, free relief was granted only if the ball rested in the player’s own pitchmark. Under new Rule 16.3b, players may take free relief if a rules official confirms the ball lies in a pitchmark beneath ground level made by another player’s shot. Repaired pitchmarks, intentionally or accidentally fixed or even partially restored by groundskeepers, do not qualify for relief. This rule change followed repeated incidents, including one involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open, where his request was denied after his ball landed in a competitor’s pitchmark, leading to frustration.
\”Out of Bounds\” Applies Only When Ball Is Played from the Tee
To prevent players from gaining advantage by using another hole’s fairway as a shortcut, inside out-of-bounds boundaries (usually marked with white stakes) now apply only when the ball is played from the tee. Previously, players were sometimes restricted severely near these boundaries, unable to chip back onto the fairway. This adjustment aims to preserve fairness while still discouraging shortcutting fairways from the tee.
Relief Allowed for Movable Obstructions on Closely Mown Areas near the Green
If the ball is off the green, movable obstructions typically don’t warrant relief under Rule 16.1. However, when the closely mown apron or fringe supports putting as a common technique, fixed obstructions like sprinklers or microphone holes may be considered interference. In such cases, officials can grant relief if the ball lies on the intended line of play.