Here we go with another Cameron’s Rules, with Northern Region Executive Director Cameron MacGregor.
The United States Golf Association has long stood as the guardian of the game’s core principles: play the course as you find it and play the ball as it lies. Nowhere is that more evident than in its 15 national championships and their qualifying events.
Outside of those competitions, however, tournament committees have often used a practical tool when conditions deteriorate: “preferred lies.” This commonly used procedure allows players to mark, lift, clean, and place their ball within a specified area (typically within six inches, no closer to the hole) to find a better lie when weather or course conditions warrant it.
In a notable shift, the USGA will now allow preferred lies in qualifying rounds in extreme cases, specifically when poor conditions and scheduling constraints make rescheduling impractical.
Previously, the USGA resisted this approach out of concern that altering conditions might impact competitive integrity. But real-world experience suggests otherwise.
Several years ago in Southern California, a Monday qualifier for an SCPGA Tour event was played after an exceptionally wet winter. The course was saturated, with standing water throughout. To ensure the competition could proceed, players were allowed to play “lift, clean, and tee.” Despite the unusual conditions, the outcome was familiar—the strongest players rose to the top and earned their spots.
The lesson? Even with preferred lies, the best players still prevail.
A tip of the cap to the USGA for this thoughtful update… and rest assured, this change won’t be opening the door for me to sneak into the field.
