PGA Tour veteran Sam Ryder made an unusual mid-round withdrawal from a Monday Qualifier, citing an inadvertent rule violation that left him feeling he had compromised his integrity in competition.
The 36-year-old professional golfer was competing for a spot in the Valspar Championship when he discovered he had been unknowingly breaking one of six new PGA Tour rules implemented this season. Ryder's career spans 234 Tour events with 132 cuts made and earnings exceeding $10.6 million, though he entered 2026 with only partial Tour eligibility.
"I was kind of embarrassed to say, but last week I did the Monday [Qualifier] at Brooksville [for the Valspar Championship], and I withdrew because I unintentionally cheated, actually," Ryder explained during an appearance on the "Any Given Monday" podcast with Ryan French.
The violation centered on new regulations for lift, clean and place situations, commonly known as preferred lies. Under previous rules, players could drop their ball within a club length of the original position after cleaning it. However, the 2026 rule change restricts this distance to the length of a scorecard, approximately 11 inches.
Ryder was performing well in the qualifier before discovering his error. "Because it was lift, clean and place, and they changed the rule this year, which I knew, it was totally my fault, but I hadn't played lift, clean and place yet under the new rule," he said.
"And I played nine holes and was three under and I was kind of cruising along. I think six under got through. I was playing fine, and I realized I had not been doing the scorecard length," Ryder continued. "So it didn't really gain anything for me, but I definitely knew there were a couple situations where… so I withdrew."
When Akshay Bhatia withdrew from the Valspar Championship field on Wednesday before the first round, Ryder received a spot in the tournament. He capitalized on the opportunity by making the cut at Innisbrook and finishing tied for 64th, earning $19,474 for his efforts.
The incident highlights the challenges professional golfers face as they adapt to rule changes while maintaining the sport's emphasis on integrity and self-policing. Ryder's decision to withdraw, despite being in contention and acknowledging the violations likely didn't provide competitive advantage, demonstrates the ethical standards expected at golf's highest level.
This new preferred lies rule represents part of broader efforts by golf's governing bodies to modernize and clarify regulations. Players will need to continue adjusting to such changes as the season progresses, with Monday Qualifiers serving as crucial opportunities for those seeking to earn their way into PGA Tour events.