Section 5: Rules of Play
Format
- 72-hole stroke play over 4 rounds
- Cut at 36 holes — typically top 70 and ties advance to the weekend (subject to championship-specific Notice to Players)
- The player with the lowest 72-hole total wins the championship and the Wanamaker Trophy
Stipulated Round and Tee Times
- Each player has an assigned tee time for each round, published in the daily pairings and tee times
- Players must be ready to play at their assigned tee time; arriving late but within 5 minutes of the time is a two-stroke penalty; arriving more than 5 minutes late is disqualification under Rule 5.3a
Pace of Play Policy
The PGA of America pace-of-play policy operates similarly to the USGA and LPGA frameworks, with championship-specific implementation:
- Each group has a published timing par for each hole given the field-position context
- A group falling out of position is put on the clock by a rules official
- An individual player who exceeds the time limit on a stroke (40 seconds standard, +10 seconds for first to play) receives a bad time
- Bad-time escalation: warning → one-stroke penalty → two-stroke penalty (additional) → disqualification
Suspension of Play
- One-tone air horn: normal suspension; players may mark their ball position and proceed to shelter (or play on at their own discretion for a brief period in light-rain situations)
- Three-tone air horn: immediate suspension (typically lightning); players stop play immediately, mark the ball, and proceed to shelter
- Resumption is signaled by one short blast and a steady tone after the all-clear interval has elapsed
Practice Rounds and Practice Areas
- Practice rounds are typically permitted on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the championship (Thursday is round one)
- Practice on the host course on the day of a stipulated round (other than the player's stipulated round) is restricted per the Notice to Players
- Practice on the practice areas (driving range, putting green, short-game area, chipping green) is permitted throughout the championship
Local Rule Modifications
Specific Local Rules apply at the host venue and are listed in the daily Notice to Players. Common categories:
- Embedded ball relief in the general area
- Movable obstructions (tournament infrastructure)
- TIO line-of-sight relief from cameras, scoreboards, and stands
- Sprinkler heads and wires near the green
- Casual water and ground under repair specific to the venue