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
    • NCG Golf Podcast
    • NCG Top 100s Podcast
    • Your Golf Podcast by NCG
  • Magazine
    • Why walking is how golf is meant to be played
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
  • PodcastsHas submenu items
    • NCG Golf Podcast
    • NCG Top 100s Podcast
    • Your Golf Podcast by NCG
  • Magazine
  • The Joy of WalkingHas submenu items
    • Why walking is how golf is meant to be played

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

© 2026 National Club Golfer | 2 Arena Park, Tam Lane, LS17 9BF

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Editorial Policy
  • Meet the NCG Team
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
Country: gb Page generated at: Wednesday, 27 May 2026 at 13:35:51 British Summer Time
rules
Rules of Golf
You’ll never guess which rule this legend wants to change!

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

About the author

George Cooper
George Cooper

George joined NCG straight from the University of Groningen and covers all the things we think you want to read about from golf’s various tours. He also looks after our social media channels.

Born and bred in Buckinghamshire, George enjoys football – though he doesn’t support a specific team – and athletics. His marathon PB is a ludicrously impressive 2 hours and 56 minutes.

Twitter

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

What's Popular

MALELANE, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 05: Golf balls are seen on the practice facilitates prior to the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club on December 05, 2023 in Malelane, South Africa. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

Can I get away with playing a ball that was out of bounds?

By Steve Carroll | Apr 27, 2026

Read full article Can I get away with playing a ball that was out of bounds?
Is Tiger Woods playing in The Open

Where will The Open Championship be held in 2027, 2028 and 2029?

By Matt Chivers | Apr 27, 2026

Read full article Where will The Open Championship be held in 2027, 2028 and 2029?
Bryson DeChambeau at LIV Golf Korea | Source: LIV Golf

Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?

By Matt Chivers | May 20, 2026

Read full article Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?
richest golfers of all time

Who are the richest golfers of all time?

By Matt Chivers | Oct 1, 2025

Read full article Who are the richest golfers of all time?
David Puig of LIV Golf | Source: Getty Images

Big DP World Tour events still allow LIV Golfers to compete, but how?

By Matt Chivers | Apr 27, 2026

Read full article Big DP World Tour events still allow LIV Golfers to compete, but how?

Best Budget Irons 2026

By | Mar 5, 2026

Read full article Best Budget Irons 2026
David Feherty of the LIV Golf League | Source: Getty Images

LIV Golf’s David Feherty: I am in the dark like everyone else

By Matt Chivers | Apr 30, 2026

Read full article LIV Golf’s David Feherty: I am in the dark like everyone else
First place individual champion, Captain Jon Rahm of Legion XIII celebrates on the 18th green after the final round of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on Sunday, April 19, 2026 in Naucalpan, Mexico. (Photo by Jon Ferrey/LIV Golf)

Jon Rahm has finally made the right call on the DP World Tour – but is his biggest decision yet to come?

By Matt Chivers | May 5, 2026

Read full article Jon Rahm has finally made the right call on the DP World Tour – but is his biggest decision yet to come?
golfers private jets

Which golfers own private jets and how much do they cost?

By Matt Coles | Oct 16, 2025

Read full article Which golfers own private jets and how much do they cost?
Group of elderly men , businesspeople and senior enjoy outdoor sport golfing together at country club . Healthy men golfer holding golf stick on fairway with talking together at summer sunset. High quality photo | Source: Adobe Stock World Handicap System

Does the World Handicap System need to be the same across Great Britain & Ireland?

By Steve Carroll | May 3, 2026

Read full article Does the World Handicap System need to be the same across Great Britain & Ireland?
Garrick Higgo looks over a putt at the PGA Championship | Source: Getty Images

Garrick Higgo’s PGA Championship penalty is a warning for every club golfer

By Steve Carroll | May 14, 2026

Read full article Garrick Higgo’s PGA Championship penalty is a warning for every club golfer
Masters champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland waits to putt during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 12, 2026 | Source: Logan Whitton

The Putter behind Rory’s Masters wins: Review and where to get it!

By Jack Backhouse | Apr 13, 2026

Read full article The Putter behind Rory’s Masters wins: Review and where to get it!