Six new PGA Tour rules come into effect, ranging from relief on fairways and pitchmarks to club repairs.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour announced five new local rules to players and added a sixth rule change concerning preferred lies. The season opener at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii, next week will see these six new rules in effect. Steven Rintoul, the PGA Tour vice president for rules and officiating, told golf.com the changes offer \”good, sensible outcomes for golf at the highest level.\” He explained that the new local rules, approved by the USGA and R&A effective January 1, 2026, represent a continuation of the modernization effort begun in 2019.
Key Updates to PGA Tour Rules for 2026
The first new rule clarifies penalties for unintentional ball movement under Rule 9.4b: a player receives a one-stroke penalty if they move a resting ball and fail to replace it before their next stroke, even if unaware the ball moved. Playing from a wrong place penalty applies under Rule 14.7a if the player knew the ball moved and failed to replace it. This rule emerged from an incident involving Shane Lowry at the 2025 Open Championship where he unintentionally moved his ball during a practice swing.
Another significant change allows relief without penalty when a ball rests in a competitor’s pitchmark on the green, expanding previous rules permitting relief only in the player’s own pitchmark under Rule 16.3b. Repaired pitchmarks do not qualify for relief. This change follows repeated occurrences such as Lowry’s denied relief request at the 2025 Open, which affected his subsequent shots.
The definition of \”Out of Bounds\” now applies only from the tee, preventing players from gaining unfair advantages by using other fairways mid-hole. Previously, inner boundary stakes marked out-of-bounds areas restricting shots from other points, sometimes limiting recovery options around obstacles. This rule adjustment removes that limitation off the tee only.
Additional Rule Changes and Player Equity Program Expansion
New rules also cover relief for immovable obstructions on closely mown areas near greens, allowing officials to grant relief when putting lines are impeded, as per revised Rule 16.1.
Players may now repair damaged clubs on-course using spare components carried in their bags, such as replacement clubheads, enhancing efficiency during rounds. This does not violate the rule limiting players to 14 clubs since these are parts, not full clubs.
Preferred lie relief distances on poor fairways will reduce from one club length (~46 inches) to one scorecard length (~11 inches), aligning with other organizations and maintaining fairness by limiting ball placement advantage, specifically during severe mud or turf damage conditions.
PGA Tour Player Equity Program and Future Plans
The PGA Tour has expanded its Player Equity Program to include