One player is sure to crack up at PGA Tour's new golf rule
The PGA Tour has updated its rule relating to damaged clubs that will come into effect for the 2025 campaign.
Matthew Fitzpatrick is sure to take note of the PGA Tour's newest rule.
The North American circuit announced on 16 December that the tournament committee have updated Model Local Rule G-9 for the 2025 campaign.
You might have missed it because the PGA of America announced U.S. Ryder Cup players are going to be paid for the first time in its 97-year history and all hell broke loose.
But back to the topic at hand, and it has been confirmed that players will be allowed to replace clubs that are 'significantly damaged'.
Players have always been allowed to replace broken clubs, but damage now covers 'audible rattles within the clubhead' and 'dents or kinks in the shaft'.
"For example, a cracked driver must be replaced by another driving club, or a 7-iron with a broken shat must be replaced by a club that fills that gap in the progression of the set of irons," a statement from rules committee read.
"A broken putter may only be replaced by a similar club, another putter.
"Unchanged in the revision, a club damaged in cases of abuse may not be replaced."
See the full statement here, via MondayQInfo:
England's Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, lost his cool with a rules official during the BMW Championship in August.
During the final round, Fitzpatrick noticed just before the turn that his Titleist driver had a visible crack in the face.
Under the previous rule, Fitzpatrick was not able to replace it.
He was playing with World No.1 Scottie Scheffler at the time and the American even backed up Fitzpatrick.
Hot mics picked up Fitzpatrick telling the official the ruling was 'a disgrace' and 'outrageous'.
Fitzpatrick then deliberately hit his cracked driver to demonstrate there was a problem.
"I've literally just watched a ball do a completely different thing from the whole morning," he blasted.
"It couldn't be more obvious."
Scheffler told the official Fitzpatrick's tee shot travelled 80 yards shorter than usual. And it was offline.
Remind yourself of the moment here:
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