Ryder Cup rule for Viktor Hovland’s injury causes controversy

A stiff neck may have stopped the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history. 

Shortly before Sunday’s 12 scheduled Ryder Cup singles matches began at Bethpage Black, Europe’s Viktor Hovland withdrew with a neck injury, leaving Team USA down 12-5 after each side received a half-point. 

Prior to the Ryder Cup, each team captain was required to put the name of one player — in a sealed envelope — who would not participate in singles in the event of an injury on the opposing team.

U.S. captain Keegan Bradley, who listed Harris English, then needed his team to claim 9.5 points from the remaining 11 matches. 

After the Americans fell just short, 15-13, in the closest Ryder Cup since 2012, Bradley could only wonder how history might have changed with an alternate player available and one more match to be decided. 

“It has to change,” said Bradley, discussing the long-standing Ryder Cup tradition. “I think it’s obvious to everybody in the sports world, in this room. Nothing against Viktor. But that rule needs to change by the next Ryder Cup.” 

Hovland was victorious during Saturday morning’s foursomes session, but was a late scratch in four-ball play, having aggravated an injury the Norwegian has been dealing with since June.

Hovland received an MRI scan at a hospital Saturday night and said he was unable to move his neck when he woke up Sunday morning. 

This was the fourth time the envelope system has been used in the Ryder Cup.

In the previous two instances — following injuries to Steve Pate in 1991 and Sam Torrance in 1993 both — both ended with American victories by two points or fewer. 

“We have contracts for a reason, a captains’ agreement for a reason,” European captain Luke Donald said. “I would have had absolute faith in [Hovland] to deliver a point today. He couldn’t play. He was gutted.” 

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Book Cam Young a ticket to Ireland in 2027. 

The 28-year-old, New York native was the biggest reason Team USA nearly achieved the impossible, going 3-1 in his Ryder Cup debut. Young tied Xander Schauffele for the most points by any American player, matching Patrick Cantlay for the most holes won (13) by any U.S. player in the five sessions. 

“There’s no bigger stage to play on, in my home state, a golf course that I love,” Young said. “Apparently Ryder Cups fire me up a little bit.” 

Young’s strong play led Bradley to use him in the opening match against Justin Rose, who was making his seventh Ryder Cup appearance. After building a commanding lead approaching the 13th hole, Young lost three of the next four holes. 

Then, Young set the state park ablaze, delivering a 10-foot putt on the 18th hole to clinch the Americans’ first victory. 

“It’s a putt that I’ve wanted to have for a long time,” Young said. “I haven’t felt anything like that playing golf before.” 

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Bryson DeChambeau brought fireworks to the first tee, blasting it over the trees blocking the green on all three days. 

His finish was nearly more spectacular. 

After falling behind by five through seven holes against Matt Fitzpatrick, DeChambeau didn’t lose another, recovering to win three of the final five holes and evening the match on the 17th. They both shot par on the final hole, with each player claiming a half-point. 

“I fought my ass off today for this team, for this country,” the LIV star said. “We’re not quitters. We’re not people that go down easy … Wish I would have gotten a point, though.” 

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Bradley’s captain picks (Young, Sam Burns, Cantlay, Ben Griffin, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas) went a combined 7-12-4. Donald’s selections (Hovland, Ludvig Åberg, Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka) finished 10-8-4 … The Europeans’ one singles victory matched the lowest total by either side since 1957 … Donald became just the second European captain to win back-to-back Ryder Cups, joining Tony Jacklin (1985, 1987).