PGA Tour winner Michael Kim has revealed and supported a new local rule change from the US circuit that will see players move their ball within a scorecard length instead of a club-length when Preferred Lies are in operation.
Preferred Lies are one of the Modal Local Rules committees and tournament organizers can use, often following prolonged spells of rain when fairways tend to be muddy and/or wet.
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“Instead of a full club length relief, it’s only scorecard relief.
Great new rule change to the pgatour lift clean and place rule. Instead of a full club length relief, it’s only scorecard relief. Experienced it during DP world tour and thought it was much better. A full club length can really change the angle of a chip shot some times pic.twitter.com/cJveuldcI1January 6, 2026
The PGA Tour’s explanation for new preferred lies change:
Preferred Lies Modification: Reduction to a Scorecard Length
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.A scorecard length is used universally by other organizations 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.If a ball is placed outside of the scorecard length by mistake, it can be corrected without penalty before the next stroke is made.