Preferred lies (also known as “lift, clean, and place”) is a temporary rule in golf that allows players to improve the position of their ball when it is in their own fairway without penalty.
It’s typically used when course conditions are poor, like after heavy rain, when the fairways are soggy, muddy, or otherwise unplayable in spots.
This does happen from time to time on the PGA Tour, especially following heavy rain or when rain is in the forecast.
Under preferred lies, a player is usually allowed to:
- Mark the position of the ball provided it is in the fairway.
- Lift it from where it lies.
- Clean it (when mud or water is an issue).
- Place it within a specific distance (on the PGA Tour in 2026, it is the length of a scorecard) of the original spot, but not nearer the hole.
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