PGA Tour Finally Announces Rule Change Regarding Players Signing Incorrect Scorecards

Published|Updated

In an announcement that will surely set off the ‘old-school’ golf fan while putting a smile on the ‘modern’ one, the PGA Tour has made a significant rule change when it comes to players signing their scorecards at the end of each round. More specifically, players who may sign for an incorrect score.

Prior to the rule update, a PGA Tour player who signed for an incorrect score on their scorecard and proceeded to leave the scoring area would automatically be disqualified from the tournament. We saw this scenario play out earlier this season when Jordan Spieth signed for the incorrect score after the second round of the Genesis Invitational. 

Spieth signed for a par on the Par 3 fourth hole and a second-round 72, when in fact he made a bogey on the hole and shot 73. The three-time major winner took full responsibility for the mistake.

As Spieth noted, rules are rules, but a player being disqualified for signing for an incorrect score in 2024 where every single shot these players hit is documented, measured, and recorded seems silly and has been for quite some time. 

This new rule change gives players a 15-minute grace period where they can return to the scoring area and correct any error they may have signed. 

The memo sent to PGA Tour players, which was shared on X by Michael Kim, states: In general, all players will have the ability to correct an error within this 15-minute period which may have previously resulted in a penalty or disqualification. However, expectations may apply when constraints within the competition limit a player's correction time to less than 15 minutes, such as releasing tee times following the cut, starting a playoff, or the close of the competition."

The memo also notes that the rule change, which will also be implemented on the DP World Tour, is supported by both the USGA and R&A and will go into effect beginning this week.

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Mark covers all sports at OutKick while keeping a close eye on the world of professional golf. He graduated from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga before earning his master's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee. He somehow survived living in Knoxville despite ‘Rocky Top’ being his least favorite song ever written. Before joining OutKick, he wrote for various outlets including SB Nation, The Spun, and BroBible. Mark was also a writer for the Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate in 2016 when the team won the World Series. He's still waiting for his championship ring to arrive. Follow him on Twitter @itismarkharris.