Overview
- The change is codified in the 2026 Model Local Rules and takes effect at the season opener, the Sony Open in Hawaii on January 15.
- Preferred lies remain restricted to specific conditions such as widespread mud, relief from temporary water that moves a ball outside the fairway, or fairway issues that could distort competition.
- The placement area shrinks from roughly a club length to the standardized length of a scorecard, reported as about 11 inches, with a green scorecard sticker indicating the rule when used.
- Players may correct an accidental placement outside the scorecard-length area without penalty if it is fixed before the next stroke.
- Michael Kim publicly praised the update, and it arrives as part of a broader set of six immediate rule adjustments that also address issues like internal out of bounds and embedded-ball relief.