PGA Tour 6 Rule Changes for 2026

[saevel25]

6 rules changes the PGA Tour is enacting in 2026 (and what triggered them)

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The PGA Tour shared several rules changes with its players on Tuesday. Here's what you need to know about why the rules have been modified.

 

 

[iacas]

I'm not so sure about one or two of them.

The scorecard length for LCP makes sense. It's odd that they were using a club length on the PGA Tour for as long as they were.

@DaveP043, does the embedded ball mark jibe with the ROG?

[iacas]

Never mind, actually. I'm behind on this stuff.

https://www.usga.org/content/dam/usga/pdf/2026/2026 USGA Local Rules and Terms of the Competition - FINAL.pdf

Clarifications of the Rules of Golf

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Clarifications of the Rules of Golf

 

[DaveP043]

12 hours ago, iacas said:

I'm not so sure about one or two of them.

The scorecard length for LCP makes sense. It's odd that they were using a club length on the PGA Tour for as long as they were.

@DaveP043, does the embedded ball mark jibe with the ROG?

These were almost all included on the list of Clarifications or revised Model Local Rules released just a few days ago.  I'm pretty sure the first 3 are brand new MLRs (Moved/Wrong Place, Embedded Ball in someone else's pitch mark, Internal OB applies only to tee shot) that the PGA Tour is choosing to use.  The 16.1 Rule (relief near a Putting Green) was revised allowed a Committee to give relief for more than just Immoveable Obstructions, microphone holes would be classed as GUR (a hole made by the maintenance staff).  The replacement club rule was available before, the E-3 (Lift Clean and Place distance) could have been defined as "one scorecard" before, they're just a change in how the PGA choices.

Here are the January 1 Clarifications and revised MLRs

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/clarifications-of-the-rules-of-golf.html#cp