Every year, it all boils down to the TOUR Championship and the finale of the FedExCup Playoffs. That’s where 30 players on the PGA TOUR earn a ticket to East Lake to compete for the season-long title. But this time, golfers can boost their ball’s position in the fairway, penalty-free, because of one simple rule: preferred lies. “Preferred lies will be in effect during round one of the TOUR Championship,” PGA TOUR Communications wrote on X, but why is it needed?

It’s the weather!

AccuWeather says there’s a 55% chance of rain and 33% chance of thunderstorms with a high of 88°F and a heat index hitting 94°F. In fact, storms could pop up as early as 3 pm but are more likely after 5 pm, with heavy downpours and gusty winds. So, how will preferred lies help golfers?

Under the preferred lies rule, a player is allowed to:

1. Mark the position of the ball if it is in the fairway.
2. Lift it.
3. If it had mud, golfers could clean the ball.
4. Place it within a specific distance, generally within one club length or six inches of the original spot. But not near the hole.

No wonder the rule is also known as ‘lift, clean, and place’. It is usually used during poor weather conditions, like heavy rains or when the fairways are soggy, muddy. And the rule has been applied from time to time on the PGA Tour.

While preferred lies is allowed on the PGA Tour, it is considered an exception rather than the norm. 2025 saw quite frequent use of the rule. And perhaps that’s why it left fans annoyed. At the 2025 Truist Championship, they brought it in ahead of round 2 due to a wet forecast. Then, just a month later at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, they announced the same ruling mid-tournament, this time during the opening round.

Essentially, this isn’t the first time the American circuit has barreled one of its events with this particular ruling, but it’s the suddenness of this announcement is what has certainly upset some golf fans.

PGA Tour fans declare the TOUR Championship a resounding “joke”

Golf fans aren’t loving the PGA Tour’s preferred lies ruling. One fan slammed it, declaring, “What a joke.” Another fan took it a step further, commenting, “I don’t think the PGA Tour should ever have preferred lies.” They’re clearly not buying the rule tweak. But the Tour has brought in this ruling before, fearing inclement weather.

Despite picture-perfect sunny weather on a Thursday at Torrey Pines in 2021, the Tour instituted preferred lies. Why? Because Friday’s forecast was calling for heavy rain. So even with gorgeous San Diego skies, players got lift, clean, and place rules, making life a little easier for the pros and harder for the fans.

“Why of course they will,” said one fan, while another commented, “Sham of a tour, play the real game! Cheers, Henry.” The Tour has been using preferred lies a lot this season. At the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach, cold, wet, and windy conditions in round 1 led to the Tour offering preferred lies. Golf fans were upset, calling it a “loser move.” 

A fan slammed it, calling the Tour an “Unserious organization.” And at the 2025 Zurich Classic, things got sarcastic when the Tour brought in preferred lies despite pristine weather. Hence, one user joked, “‘Preferred lies’ are in effect with our mainstream media every day! 😄” – a dig at the Tour and maybe broader institutions too.

However, the discontent isn’t limited to its usage, but also when it was not used. During the 2025 PGA Championship, Scottie Scheffler openly criticised when golfers were not allowed to use the preferred lies. “It’s one of those deals where it’s frustrating to hit the ball in the middle of the fairway and get mud on it and have no idea where it’s going to go. But I don’t make the rules. I just have to deal with the consequences of those rules,” he had said, explaining that it cost him some shots.

So, do you think golfers should be able to use the preferred lies rule when needed? Let us know in the comments below.