Farmingdale, N.Y. — After his team lost 15-13 to the Europeans at the 45th Ryder Cup in Beth Page Black on Sunday, US Captain Keegan Bradley said long-standing envelope rules for the event, including injured players, should be changed.
However, Luke Donald, the second European captain to win the back-to-back Ryder Cup, said the rules should be there and remain as they are to protect players.
Alternative rules for captain contracts require each team to submit one player’s name on Saturday night and one player’s name in a sealed envelope that will not play in the event of injury to a golfer on the opposing team.
He was only called for the fourth time on Sunday when Norway’s Victor Hofland had to withdraw from singles due to a neck injury.
“The rules are rules and they’ve been in place for a long time,” Donald said. “We have contracts for reasons and contracts for captain reasons due to circumstances that occur.”
Hovland was planning to play Harris English on Anchor Singles Match. English happened to be the player Bradley submitted in his sealed envelope, so he had to see his actions on Sunday.
“I would have had absolute faith in him to deliver the points today,” Donald said of Hofland. “He couldn’t play. He got the courage to do so.”
English said: “It went there and smoked not playing. But it was what it was and I was part of the crowd today and contributed as much as I could.”
The team halved the match and gave the Europeans a 12-5 lead in the final session.
Bradley said the rule “must change” but does not specify how he will change it. The most obvious way to do that is to lose all points, not half points, to a team of injured golfers.
“I have a few ideas, but I’m not going to tell you right now,” Bradley said. “I mean, the rules have to change. I think it’s obvious to everyone in the sports world in this room. There’s nothing for Viktor, but we’ll need to change that rule before the next Rider Cup.”
Donald noted that the US used controversial rules when he won the 1991 Ryder Cup 14.5-13.5 at the Kiawu Island Golf Resort in South Carolina. Steve Putty was injured in a car accident the night before the event began, and his injured ribs prevented him from playing on a single. If the Americans had been forced to lose all the points, the Europeans would have held the Ryder Cup with a score of 14-14.
Scotland’s Sam Torrance retracted his toe infection from his singles match at the 1993 Ryder Cup. Lanny Wadkins volunteered to sit for the Americans. The US team won 15-13 at the UK Bell Free, maintaining the last win in Europe, Ryder Cup.
Hovland, who retreated from Saturday’s four-ball game, had an MRI at a New York hospital on Saturday night. He woke up on Sunday and couldn’t move his head. Ryder Cup officials said Hofland tried to warm up with Beth Page Black, but movement was limited.
“There’s nothing I want to do more than representing Team Europe and trying to help us win today’s Ryder Cup,” Hofland said in a statement. “It’s pretty heartbreaking not being able to do that. I’ll help my team as hard as I can and cheer them on.”
Hovland said he’s been dealing with heading issues for the past few months, but has begun experiencing the latest pain during a Saturday morning Foursomes (Alternate Shot) match. He received medication and physical therapy on the course, but the pain did not go away.
“The MRI was placed after contacting Team Europe and the on-site medical team of PGA of America. This confirmed a flare-up of previous injuries. A neck bulging by a medical imaging specialist.” “This morning, Viktor received continuous treatment, but unfortunately he is unable to spin the neck or bend to one side, making it impossible to play the single.”
Hofland, the world’s No. 12 golfer, was scheduled to play with Matt Fitzpatrick in Saturday’s four-ball match between Sam Burns and Patrick Cantray. Shortly before tea time, Hofland was replaced by Tyrrell Hatton. Fitzpatrick and Hutton won by one up.
