Viktor Hovland found himself as the center of discussion after last month’s controversial withdrawal from the Ryder Cup due to a bulging disk in his neck.
As a result, Hovland’s final match against American Harris English was halved, with each side receiving a half-point in what ultimately resulted in a 15-13 victory for the Europeans.
The 28-year-old Norwegian’s withdrawal at Bethpage Black put into play the “envelope rule.”
When submitting his singles lineup Saturday night, United States captain Keegan Bradley had to place the name of one of his players in a sealed envelope who would not play if someone from Europe withdrew.
That name was English, who already was slated to face Hovland in the final singles match of the afternoon.
“The whole situation was pretty upsetting, just the fact that I didn’t get to play, and I felt really bad for Harris, who also didn’t get to play a match, even though there was nothing wrong with him,” Hovland said on Tuesday, ahead of the DP World India Championship. “He just didn’t get to play, and he was upset about that, and I feel very bad for not being able to compete.
“It’s tough. I think we’re so used to in sports, that if you can’t play because you’re hurt, obviously that should be a loss of point. But I think, in the spirit of the Ryder Cup and the spirit of the game and the history of it — knowing that this Ryder Cup is just a part of many, many Ryder Cups to come — I think it’s more of a gentlemen’s agreement that, OK, you were hurt this time and maybe the next time there’s a guy on the U.S.’s team and we’re all kind of sympathetic about the person being hurt and not being able to play.
“I think there’s kind of a mutual understanding that if we were healthy, we would all go out there and play. I don’t think people are using that to really finagle the system and try and squeak by.”
Bradley said in his post-tournament press conference that he feels the rule needs to be changed. European captain Luke Donald, in turn, noted the rule is in the captain’s agreement.
As for Hovland?
“I don’t think there’s any ideal to way to do it,” Hovland said, “but I think (a half-point each) is just a better way overall to do it, even though it’s just a tough situation. And at the end of the day, I think we’d all be wanting to go out there and play.”
Hovland’s injury at the Ryder Cup was the same one that forced him to withdraw from the Travelers Championship in late June.
