Skip to content
    • Tour Homepage
    • PGA Tour
    • LIV Golf
    • DP World Tour
    • LPGA
    • LET
    • The Masters
    • The Open
    • The Players
    • US Open
    • PGA Championship
    • Ryder Cup
    • Solheim Cup
    • WITB
    • Betting
    • News
    • Features
    • Equipment Homepage
    • Reviews
    • Drivers
    • Fairway Woods
    • Hybrids
    • Irons
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Golf Balls
    • DMDs
    • Apparel
    • Shoes
    • Trolleys
    • Features
    • News
  • Buying Advice
    • Rules
    • WHS
    • Features
    • News
    • Instruction Homepage
    • Driving Tips
    • Long Game
    • Iron Play
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Learn from the pros
    • Course Management
    • Fitness
    • Mental Game
    • Nutrition
  • Giveaways
    • Top 100 Rankings
    • Travel
    • Top 100s Tour
    • Society Guide
  • The NCG Podcast
  • Digital Magazine
National Club GolferNational Club Golfer Logo
  • TourHas submenu items

    Tour Homepage

    • PGA Tour
    • LIV Golf
    • DP World Tour
    • LPGA
    • LET
    • The Masters
    • The Open
    • The Players
    • US Open
    • PGA Championship
    • Ryder Cup
    • Solheim Cup
    • WITB
    • Betting
    • News
    • Features
  • EquipmentHas submenu items

    Equipment Homepage

    • Reviews
    • Drivers
    • Fairway Woods
    • Hybrids
    • Irons
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Golf Balls
    • DMDs
    • Apparel
    • Shoes
    • Trolleys
    • Features
    • News
  • Buying Advice
  • ClubHas submenu items
    • Rules
    • WHS
    • Features
    • News
  • InstructionHas submenu items

    Instruction Homepage

    • Driving Tips
    • Long Game
    • Iron Play
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Learn from the pros
    • Course Management
    • Fitness
    • Mental Game
    • Nutrition
  • Giveaways
  • CoursesHas submenu items
    • Top 100 Rankings
    • Travel
    • Top 100s Tour
    • Society Guide
  • The NCG Podcast
  • Digital Magazine

Sign up here for our newsletter and you'll never slice a drive again. Promise.

Newsletter sign up

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
National Club Golfer Logo

© 2025 National Club Golfer | 2 Arena Park, Tam Lane, LS17 9BF

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy
Country: gb Page generated at: Sunday 23 November 2025 at 11:37:27 Greenwich Mean Time
rulesRules of Golf

published: Nov 18, 2022

|

updated: Jul 31, 2024

You’ll never guess which rule this legend wants to change!

George CooperLink

FacebookXInstagramYouTubePodcast0 comments

A lot of you are fed up with it – and you’ll be pleased to know you’ve got Bernhard Langer on your side. We’ll let the two-time Masters champion explain

Bernhard Langer

Table of Contents

Jump to:

  • Golf’s great divot rule has reared its head once again!

We’ve all encountered it. We’ve all argued about it. Some of us have been left enraged by it. But now, with the new Rules of Golf set for 2023, one tour legend has weighed in on the debate.

And what Bernhard Langer proposes is going to be music to a lot of ears.

What are we talking about? Well, only one of the most divisive rules in the whole sport, one which continues to leave golfers moaning almost as much as slow play. Step forward Mr Langer, who’s now had his say when asked which law of the game he’d change if given the chance…

“There’s always things I’d like to change,” Langer told Golf.com. “I think we should be dropping out of divots.”

Golf’s great divot rule has reared its head once again!

That’s right, golf’s great divot rule debate has reignited once again! And the two-time Masters winner is adamant change needs to happen.

“You know divots are made by us, and sometimes you hit a beautiful tee shot down the middle of the fairway and you’re in a sand-filled divot, and it’s like hitting out of a fairway bunker,” Langer continued. “I don’t think that’s fair if you hit a good shot. You should have a lie on grass, basically, so I think we should do that.”

golf divot

Sadly for the PGA Tour legend – and a lot of you guys – the rules aren’t changing any time soon. Fair or not, this precious relief law has not been amended for 2023, and is no danger of being altered given a divot will always be a part of the golf course. In other words, get on with it and play the ball as it lies!

Sorry Bernhard.

  • RELATED: European Tour rules official discusses playing the ball as it lies

Got a question for our expert?

Despite the changes to the Rules of Golf in 2019 and 2023, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. I’ll try to help by featuring the best of your queries in this column.

Advertisement

What do you think of this divot rule? Should you get free relief from a divot in the fairway? Or should you always have to play your golf ball in a divot? Let us know on Twitter.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE RULES OF GOLF
  • NOW READ: Ball in a divot? Here’s the world’s smallest violin playing just for you

Advertisement

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!