Six new PGA Tour rules come into effect—ranging from fairway relief and pitchmark adjustments to club repairs.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour informed players of five new local model rules and added a sixth regarding preferred lies. The 2026 season kicks off next week at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii, with a total of six new rules in place. Steven Rintoul, PGA Tour Vice President of Rules and Refereeing, told golf.com that these changes are \”good, sensible outcomes for high-level golf\” and represent a continuation of the modernization effort of the rulebook initiated in 2019 with the USGA and R&A adopting new local model rules effective January 1, 2026.
The new rules address various scenarios and are explained as follows:
New Rule Clarifies Penalties for Unintentional Ball Movement
Under Rule 9.4b, a player incurs a one-stroke penalty if they move their stationary ball and fail to replace it before their next stroke, even if unaware that the ball moved or could have moved. However, if it is later established that the player caused the ball to move, they have not played from a wrong place (Rule 14.7a, two-stroke penalty). If the player is aware that the ball moved but does not replace it and plays from the new location, the general penalty under Rule 14.7a (playing from a wrong place) applies. This rule was inspired by an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship in Royal Portrush.
Penalty-Free Relief Now Allowed When Ball Lies in Another Player’s Pitchmark
Previously, penalty-free relief was only allowed if the ball lay in the player’s own pitchmark. Rule 16.3b now permits relief if a rule official confirms the ball lies in a pitchmark below ground level created by another player’s strike. Repaired pitchmarks (intentionally or accidentally fixed by club, foot, or maintenance) do not qualify for relief. The change follows repeated instances, notably again involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship, whose relief request was denied when his ball settled in another player’s pitchmark.
Out of Bounds Applies Only from the Tee Box
To prevent players from gaining unfair advantages by using other holes’ fairways as shortcuts, inside boundary lines (often marked with white stakes) will now be considered out of bounds only if the ball is hit from the tee. This change addresses situations where players were restricted from chipping back onto the fairway due to boundaries near obstacles, improving fairness by limiting the rule’s application to tee shots only.
Relief from Immovable Obstructions on Closely Mown Aprons
If the ball is not on the green, immovable obstructions generally do not provide relief per Rule 16.1. However, if the apron or edge of the green is closely mowed so that putting is a common stroke, obstructions like sprinklers or microphone holes may constitute interference, allowing relief at the officials’ discretion if the ball lies on the line of play.
Players Can Repair Damaged Clubs Using Replacement Parts from Their Bag
Rule 4.1b(