This Year's PGA Tour Rules: Here’s What Has Changed

New Local Rules Implemented Starting with the Sony Open
Preferred Lie Relief Reduced from One Club Length to One Scorecard Length
One-Stroke Penalty Instead of Two for Unknowingly Moving the Ball

The PGA Tour has kicked off its 2026 season. The 11-month journey began with the Sony Open (total prize money of 9.1 million dollars) at Waialae Country Club (par 70, 7,044 yards) in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, on January 15 (local time). The tour, including the Fall Series, will continue until November. This year, new golf rules are being applied from the opening event.

The biggest change is the reduction of the preferred lie relief area. The relief area has been shortened from the 'length of a club (about 46 inches)' to the 'length of a scorecard (about 11 inches)'. However, if a player accidentally places the ball outside the scorecard length, it can be corrected without penalty as long as it is done before the next stroke.

The PGA Tour has reduced the preferred lie relief area to the length of a scorecard starting this year. Photo by Golf.com

The preferred lie is a local rule applied when course conditions are poor due to inclement weather. It allows players to clean and play balls with mud on them. Last year, this rule was applied in a total of 21 rounds on the PGA Tour.

If a player plays from the wrong spot without realizing the ball's position, it is not considered a rules violation. If a player moves their own ball unknowingly and fails to return it to its original position, the penalty has been reduced from two strokes to one stroke.

Relief measures for embedded balls have also been expanded. Previously, relief was only available when the ball was embedded in the player's own pitch mark. Now, relief is also granted if the ball comes to rest in another player's pitch mark.

The scope of relief from obstructions has also been broadened. Relief was already allowed if an immovable obstruction, such as a sprinkler head, interfered with the putting or chip shot line. Now, this includes damage caused by microphone holes or during the removal of movable obstructions. Additional relief is also permitted in the apron and fringe areas.

Clubs that are damaged or severely broken can now be replaced with a club of similar function. Repairs or head replacements using parts from the caddie bag are also allowed during play, making the equipment replacement process more efficient.