Akshay Bhatia withdrew from the 2026 Valspar Championship on Wednesday, hours after he helped Jupiter Links Golf Club to a victory over Boston Common Golf in the semifinals of the TGL playoffs.
PGA Tour Communications did not announce a reason for Bhatia’s withdrawal for the tournament at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla. The Tour, however, did announce that Sam Ryder will take his place.
Bhatia, who is No. 22 in the Official World Golf Ranking, is two weeks removed from recording his third PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He overcame a five-stroke deficit to defeat Daniel Berger in a playoff.
Bhatia, 24, followed that up with tie for 13th at the Players Championship this past week at TPC Sawgrass.


