PGA Tour makes major change to controversial rule and tournament winner loves it

The PGA Tour has confirmed a crucial change to their preferred lies rules ahead of the 2026 season.

It comes ahead of the first event of the year in Hawaii next week.

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PGA Tour events will now mirror the DP World Tour when preferred lies are in operation.

From this year, players will be allowed to move their ball by up to a scorecard length instead of a club length.

The alteration falls under the 2026 PGA Tour’s Model Local Rules.

Preferred lies permits players to lift, clean and place their ball on the fairway when the surface is muddy or wet.

The ruling is generally in operation following heavy rainfall during tournaments.

PGA Tour rule change explained

With the change, the new rule now reads: “The relief area for placing a ball when using preferred lies has been reduced from a club-length to the length of a scorecard.

“This will be denoted by a green sticker on your scorecard.”

In a further explanation of the rule change, the PGA Tour said: “A scorecard length is used universally by other organisations and will provide fairer outcomes during competition as the ball will be placed from closer to its original spot.

“The Tour philosophy when preferred lies is used does not change.

“It is used only in cases of extreme mud throughout the golf course, when relief from temporary water takes a player outside the fairway, or when poor fairway conditions are likely to negatively impact the competition.

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“If a ball is placed outside of the scorecard length by mistake, it can be corrected without penalty before the next stroke is made.”

The rule change has already received the approval of a current PGA Tour star.

World no.37 Michael Kim welcomed the measure as he wrote on X: “Great new rule change to the PGA Tour lift, clean and place rule. Instead of a full club length relief, it’s only scorecard relief.

“Experienced it during the DP World Tour and thought it was much better. A full club length can really change the angle of a chip shot some times.”

Kim won on the DP World Tour last year, clinching the FedEx Open de France back in September.

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Meanwhile, he is also a former winner on the PGA Tour, having tasted victory at the 2018 John Deere Classic.

The rule change is set to come into operation for the start of the 2026 PGA Tour.

Following the cancellation of The Sentry, the first event will be the Sony Open in Hawaii.

This year’s edition of the tournament at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu will take place from January 15 to 18.