KPMG Women's PGA Championship vs USGA Championship Golf — Same Game, Different Rules

The 14-club limit (Rule 4.1b) applies in full. Breach is a stroke-play penalty of two strokes per hole at which the breach occurred, maximum four strokes per round.

The 14-club limit (Rule 4.1b of the Rules of Golf) applies in full: a player may start a stipulated round with no more than 14 clubs and may not add a club during the round except in narrow exceptions. Breach is a stroke-play penalty of two stroke...

One caddie per player during each stipulated round; no additional caddies permitted; Caddies wear a tournament-supplied bib displaying the player's name and number; Caddie conduct is subject to the championship-specific Notice to Players

Each player must use a single caddie during the stipulated round; additional caddies are not permitted; Caddies wear a tournament-supplied bib displaying the player's name and number; The caddie is bound by the conduct expectations set forth in the Notice to Players; serious caddie misconduct can...

Spectator management via rope lines and trained marshals; sight-line management protects players during ball flight; "Fore!" is the universal warning call for an errant ball; Players responsible for clearing the area before taking a swing if visibility of the line of flight is impaired

Spectators are managed by rope lines and trained marshals; sight-line management protects players during ball flight; "Fore!" is the universal warning call for an errant ball; players are responsible for shouting "Fore!" when their ball travels toward people; Players are responsible for clearing ...

The 2026 KPMG Women's PGA is contested at Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, Minnesota) — a Robert Trent Jones / Rees Jones design that has hosted multiple major championships including the Ryder Cup, U.S. Open, and PGA Championship.

Each USGA championship is contested on a specific host course (e.g., the 2026 U.S. Open: Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, NY); The course is set up by the USGA Championship Committee in consultation with the host club's superintendent and architect; Course setup specifications include hol...

Distance-measuring devices that measure distance only are permitted (consistent with major-championship norms); Devices that measure slope, wind, elevation, or other relevant conditions are NOT permitted during the stipulated round; Mobile phone use is restricted to distance-only application use;...

Per the 2026 USGA Local Rules: Distance-measuring devices that measure distance only are permitted; Devices that measure or display slope, wind, elevation, or other relevant conditions are NOT permitted during a stipulated round at USGA championships (the standard championship-level prohibition);...

A breach of the Equipment Standards (non-conforming driver, non-conforming ball) is disqualification under Rule 4.1a.

, using a non-conforming driver) is disqualification under Rule 4.1a.

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

Stroke play: most USGA championships (U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Senior Open) use 72-hole stroke play over 4 rounds; Match play: U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women's Amateur, and U.S. Junior use a hybrid format with stroke-play qualifying rounds reducing to a match-play bracket; The Notice to Playe...

GUR is defined by white lines, with championship-specific declarations including French drains, cart paths, signage, and tournament infrastructure as appropriate.

GUR is defined by white lines, with championship-specific declarations including French drains as GUR. Specific cart paths, signage, and championship infrastructure may be declared GUR at the Committee's discretion and noted on the daily card.

June championship competition in Minnesota typically presents moderate heat risk, but the championship medical team monitors WBGT and air-quality conditions throughout. Water and electrolyte stations are positioned on the course; cooling shelters are available at strategic locations.

USGA championships are typically played in summer; heat-related risk is significant. The USGA provides: Water and electrolyte stations on the course; Cooling shelters in the players' tent and at strategic course locations; Medical observers tracking player condition

The three-tone air horn signals immediate suspension of play, typically for lightning. Players must stop play immediately, mark the ball position, and proceed to designated shelter.

The three-tone air horn signals immediate suspension of play, typically for lightning. Players must stop play immediately, drop the ball as it lies (or mark with a small marker), and proceed to designated shelter.

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

Specific Local Rules may apply at any given championship; the Notice to Players lists championship-specific modifications.

On-site medical staff including physicians, EMTs, and athletic trainers; Emergency action plans in effect at every championship venue; Defibrillators (AEDs) positioned strategically around the course

USGA championships have on-site medical staff including physicians, EMTs, and athletic trainers; Emergency action plans are in effect at every USGA championship venue; Defibrillators (AEDs) are positioned strategically around the course

PGA of America Championship Committee on site for the championship; Rules officials on each hole and in mobile carts during play; LPGA Rules Officials provide pre-round ruling, on-course rulings, and post-round score verification, working alongside the PGA of America committee

USGA Championship Committee on site for each championship; rules officials on each hole during play; Referees may be assigned to specific groups for rules questions during play; The USGA Rules Officials provide pre-round ruling, on-course rulings, and post-round score verification

The KPMG Women's PGA enforces the One-Ball Rule during a stipulated round: the player must use a ball of the same brand and model. Breach is a stroke-play penalty of two strokes per hole at which the breach occurred, with a maximum penalty of four strokes per round.

USGA championships apply the One-Ball Rule: during a stipulated round, the player must use a ball of the same brand and model. The penalty for breach is, in stroke play, two strokes per hole at which any breach occurred (with a maximum penalty of four strokes per round).

Out of bounds is defined by the course-side line of white stakes, fences, or other markings as specified in the Notice to Players. Where stakes and a fence are used together, the inside-edge-of-fence definition takes precedence.

Out of bounds is defined by the line between the course-side points of white stakes and fence posts at ground level. Where stakes and a fence are used together, the inside-edge-of-fence definition takes precedence at the discretion of the Committee.

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 i...

The USGA enforces a pace-of-play policy designed to keep play moving and to penalize unreasonable delay. The policy works as follows: Each group is given a timing par for each hole — the time the group is expected to take to complete the hole given the course conditions and group position relativ...

Penalty areas are defined by yellow or red stakes/lines per the host venue's setup; Relief options under Rule 17 apply, with championship-specific drop zones noted on the daily card

Penalty areas are defined by yellow or red stakes/lines per the host venue's setup; When a penalty area is defined on only one side (typically a stream or shoreline), it extends to infinity in the other direction; Relief options under Rule 17 apply with the championship-specific drop zones noted ...

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 ...

Practice rounds are typically permitted on designated days before the championship; 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-...

Returning a card with a hole score lower than actually made: disqualification (Rule 3.3b); Returning a card with a hole score higher than actually made: the higher score stands; Failure to sign the card, or failure of the marker to attest: disqualification

Returning a scorecard with a hole score lower than actually made: disqualification (Rule 3.3b); Returning a scorecard with a hole score higher than actually made: the higher score stands; Failure to sign the scorecard, or failure of the marker to attest: disqualification

The player verifies and signs the scorecard; the marker attests; Submitting a signed card with a hole score lower than actual: disqualification; Submitting a signed card with a hole score higher than actual: the higher score stands

Each player is responsible for the accuracy of their scorecard; The scorecard is signed by the player and attested by the marker (the playing partner who keeps the score); Submission of a signed scorecard with a hole score lower than the actual score made = disqualification

The KPMG Women's PGA enforces the One-Ball Rule during a stipulated round: the player must use a ball of the same brand and model. Breach is a stroke-play penalty of two strokes per hole at which the breach occurred, with a maximum penalty of four strokes per round.

USGA championships apply the One-Ball Rule: during a stipulated round, the player must use a ball of the same brand and model. The penalty for breach is, in stroke play, two strokes per hole at which any breach occurred (with a maximum penalty of four strokes per round).

The 2026 KPMG Women's PGA is contested at Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, Minnesota) — a Robert Trent Jones / Rees Jones design that has hosted multiple major championships including the Ryder Cup, U.S. Open, and PGA Championship.

Out of bounds is defined by the line between the course-side points of white stakes and fence posts at ground level. Where stakes and a fence are used together, the inside-edge-of-fence definition takes precedence at the discretion of the Committee.

The 2026 KPMG Women's PGA features a field of 132 players determined through the published Qualifying Criteria: Past winners of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (inclusive of all prior LPGA Championship winners); Professionals who have won an LPGA Major Championship in the previous five (5) year...

The field size and eligibility criteria are championship-specific: U.S. Open: 156 players, including past champions, top-ranked players from the Official World Golf Ranking, exempt categories, and qualifiers from local and sectional qualifying rounds; U.S. Women's Open: 156 players, similar exemp...

The PGA of America pace-of-play policy operates similarly to the USGA and LPGA frameworks, with championship-specific implementation: 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 pla...

The USGA enforces a pace-of-play policy designed to keep play moving and to penalize unreasonable delay. The policy works as follows: Stroke play: most USGA championships (U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Senior Open) use 72-hole stroke play over 4 rounds; Match play: U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women's...

The KPMG Women's PGA Championship uses a sudden-death playoff: if players are tied after 72 holes, they play extra holes on pre-designated playoff holes until a single player wins a hole outright. The playoff holes are listed in the Notice to Players.

From 2018 onward, the U.S. Open playoff format is a two-hole aggregate playoff followed by sudden death: The player who completes the stipulated round in the fewest strokes wins; 72-hole total (4 × 18 holes) determines the championship in stroke-play events; A cut is applied after 36 holes in U.S...

A breach of the Equipment Standards (non-conforming driver, non-conforming ball) is disqualification under Rule 4.1a.

, using a non-conforming driver) is disqualification under Rule 4.1a.

The three-tone air horn signals immediate suspension of play, typically for lightning. Players must stop play immediately, mark the ball position, and proceed to designated shelter.

The three-tone air horn signals immediate suspension of play, typically for lightning. Players must stop play immediately, drop the ball as it lies (or mark with a small marker), and proceed to designated shelter.

72-hole total in fewest strokes wins; The cut is applied after 36 holes (typically top 70 and ties; specific cut line published in the Notice to Players); The player with the lowest 72-hole total wins the championship

The player who completes the stipulated round in the fewest strokes wins; 72-hole total (4 × 18 holes) determines the championship in stroke-play events; A cut is applied after 36 holes in U.S. Open / U.S. Women's Open / U.S. Senior Open — typically reducing the field to the top 60 plus ties, or ...

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 pr...

One-tone air horn: normal suspension (lift, clean, and place ball where it lay; players may resume play after the all-clear signal); Three-tone air horn: immediate suspension (typically lightning); players stop play immediately, drop the ball as it lies (or take a marker), and proceed to shelter;...