Sam Ryder, a seasoned veteran on the PGA Tour, faced an unexpected hurdle during a recent Monday Qualifier for the upcoming 2026 Valspar Championship. Having entered this qualifier with the hope of earning a spot in the tournament, Ryder withdrew mid-round upon realizing that he had 'unintentionally cheated' due to not adhering to a newly implemented rule.
Ryder shared his experience candidly on the 'Any Given Monday' podcast, explaining, "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."
The source of his concern was a change in the regulations governing lift, clean, and place, often referred to as preferred lies. Traditionally, players could drop their ball within a club length after cleaning it. However, the updated rule restricts players to only the length of their scorecard, which is approximately 11 inches. Ryder admitted, "I hadn’t played lift, clean and place yet under the new rule," indicating that while he was aware of the change, he had not yet put it into practice.
Competing in his 235th PGA Tour event, Ryder was having an encouraging day on the course, having made the turn at three under par. However, as he continued, he recognized that he had not followed the correct dropping procedure. "I realized I had not been doing the scorecard length. So it didn’t really gain anything for me, but I definitely knew there were a couple situations where… so I withdrew,” said Ryder.
Ultimately, despite stepping back from the qualifier, Ryder was later granted a spot in the Valspar Championship field when Akshay Bhatia withdrew prior to the first round. Ryder made the most of this opportunity, finishing tied for 64th and earning $19,474 for his efforts. Reflecting on the experience, he expressed that he was "kind of bummed about that," but was pleased with how the situation unfolded.
Ryder's incident serves as a reminder of the complexities players face with rule changes and the importance of constant awareness on the course. As the PGA Tour continues to evolve, the impact of these new regulations will undoubtedly require players to adjust their strategies and routines.
The Valspar Championship is just one of many events where such adaptations will be tested, as golfers must remain vigilant in adhering to the updated rules. With Ryder's situation now behind him, fans can look forward to seeing how he and other pros navigate the challenges posed by the new regulations in upcoming tournaments.