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PGA Tour 6 Rule Changes for 2026

saevel25

By saevel25
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saevel25 Incredible Member

saevel25

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6554b6be8c0d829a8bf63ae0c82cf121_link.pn 6 rules changes the PGA Tour is enacting in 2026 (and what triggered them)

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.

 

 

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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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?

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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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

favicon.ico Clarifications of the Rules of Golf

Clarifications of the Rules of Golf

 

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
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DaveP043 Incredible Member

DaveP043

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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

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Dave

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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22 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

These were almost all included on the list of Clarifications or revised Model Local Rules released just a few days ago.

Which is why I added…

On 1/7/2026 at 9:32 PM, iacas said:

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

 

favicon.ico Clarifications of the Rules of Golf

Clarifications of the Rules of Golf

 

😛

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Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

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DaveP043 Incredible Member

DaveP043

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1 hour ago, iacas said:

Which is why I added…

😛

Hey, you looped me in, I had to comment in some way.  Anyone want to guess how many times I'll get asked "Do I get relief, it looks like I'm in a pitch mark?", even when that MLR isn't in effect?

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Dave

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Shindig Incredible Member

Shindig

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12 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

Hey, you looped me in, I had to comment in some way.  Anyone want to guess how many times I'll get asked "Do I get relief, it looks like I'm in a pitch mark?", even when that MLR isn't in effect?

Maybe we can set up a pool for the next time you're working a tournament ;-) 

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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On 1/9/2026 at 9:43 AM, DaveP043 said:

Hey, you looped me in, I had to comment in some way.

Hmmmmm.

On 1/9/2026 at 9:43 AM, DaveP043 said:

Hey, you looped me in, I had to comment in some way.  Anyone want to guess how many times I'll get asked "Do I get relief, it looks like I'm in a pitch mark?", even when that MLR isn't in effect?

6 or 7. 😉 

 

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
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DaveP043 Incredible Member

DaveP043

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2 minutes ago, iacas said:

Hmmmmm.

6 or 7. 😉 

 

Yeah, that won't surprise me.  I don't know about you, but in my area Referees often call the Notice to Player a "DNR"....did not read.  

Dave

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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55 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

Yeah, that won't surprise me.  I don't know about you, but in my area Referees often call the Notice to Player a "DNR"....did not read.  

One thing in your favor… those who don't know about the Rules much probably aren't reading about them right now. And this situation doesn't happen that often on TV, either.

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

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Maroon88 Established Member

Maroon88

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So the question was posed today by some of my friends.  Is a pitch mark the same as a divot?  I thought NO, but they argued if your ball lands in another player's divot (made by club during a swing) this was the same as a pitch mark, i.e. the ball mark made when the ball lands

 

Luis


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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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12 minutes ago, Maroon88 said:

So the question was posed today by some of my friends.  Is a pitch mark the same as a divot?  I thought NO, but they argued if your ball lands in another player's divot (made by club during a swing) this was the same as a pitch mark, i.e. the ball mark made when the ball lands

a) No

b) This MLR says:

Quote

Model Local Rule F-2.3

This Model Local Rule is recommended only for use in competitions where there is live television coverage, where a ruling made in real time may later be questioned based on when video evidence of that player’s stroke is shown on the broadcast.

I doubt the MLR is going to affect their weekly league games, in other words.

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
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      So the question was posed today by some of my friends.  Is a pitch mark the same as a divot?  I thought NO, but they argued if your ball lands in another player's divot (made by club during a swing) this was the same as a pitch mark, i.e. the ball mark made when the ball lands  
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