Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
Withdrawal is a player's decision, or a committee's recorded action under the competition terms, to leave a competition or match before it is completed. In match play, it is not itself a Rules of Golf scoring result: the terms may specify a concession, forfeit, walkover or another outcome.
How it matters in match play
A player can withdraw before or during a match, but the Rules of Golf do not prescribe one universal score for every withdrawal. Rule 3.2a says a match ends when the opponent concedes, is disqualified, or leads by more holes than remain; the competition's Terms of the Competition should determine how a withdrawal or failure to continue is recorded. Do not confuse withdrawal with a formal concession of the match.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Withdrawal |
| Category | general |
| Applicable rule | Rules of Golf, Rule 3.2a(3)-(5), Rule 3.2b and Rule 5.3b; event Terms of the Competition may add withdrawal procedures |
| Related concepts | Concession, Conceded Match, Forfeit, Walkover, Match Result |
Worked example
Illustrative only: Alex is 2 up after 12 holes with six to play, then withdraws because of illness. Ben does not automatically receive a 2-up result under the Rules; the Committee applies the event's Terms of the Competition, which might record a forfeit or walkover rather than inventing unfinished hole scores.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf, Rule 3.2a(3)-(5), Rule 3.2b and Rule 5.3b; event Terms of the Competition may add withdrawal procedures
Sources: www.randa.org , www.randa.org , www.usga.org
Common questions
Is withdrawal the same as conceding a match?
No. A concession is a match-play act governed by Rule 3.2b and is final once made. Withdrawal describes leaving the competition or match; the Committee and the event's Terms of the Competition determine how that departure is recorded.
Does a withdrawn player automatically lose every remaining hole?
Not as a universal Rules of Golf calculation. The Rules explain when a match is won and how a match may be conceded, but the competition terms should state the administrative result for a withdrawal or failure to continue.
What should a player do if illness forces a withdrawal during match play?
Tell the opponent and the Committee as soon as practical, then follow the event's withdrawal procedure. Do not assume an unfinished hole-by-hole score or a particular walkover result unless the Terms of the Competition provide it.