Farmingdale (United States) (AFP) – United States captain Keegan Bradley called for Ryder Cup rules regarding injured players to be changed on Sunday after the late withdrawal of Norway’s Viktor Hovland handed Europe a precious half-point and boosted their successful title defence. Hovland had been due to face American Harris English in Sunday’s singles at Bethpage Black but scratched with a neck problem before play got underway, leaving the match halved and Europe 12-5 up — just two points away from retaining the title.
Bradley wants the half-point rule in the captains’ agreement tossed. “It has to change,” Bradley said. “I have a few ideas but I’m not going to tell you right now. The rule has to change. 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.”
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Europe captain Donald supported the status quo. “It has been in place since 1971,” Donald said. “The US have used it before. It happened in 1993. Sam Torrance couldn’t play with an injured toe. The US won that one. We have contracts for a reason, a captains’ agreement for a reason, for situations that occur.”
Hovland was miserable at having to sit out. “There’s nothing more I would like to do than be out there representing Team Europe,” Hovland said. “Not being able to do so is pretty heartbreaking.”
English’s name was in an envelope provided by US captain Bradley to sit out in case of a rival’s injury under the Cup captain’s agreement. Hovland has battled the issue since withdrawing from the US PGA Tour Travelers Championship in June. The Norwegian received treatment during Saturday morning foursomes and was then unable to play in the Saturday afternoon four-balls, replaced at the last minute by England’s Tyrrell Hatton.
After an MRI scan on Saturday night at a New York hospital, Hovland awoke on Sunday unable to move his neck. Hovland tried to warm up at Bethpage but due to limited movement, he told Donald he could not play.
“He attempted to warm up for Saturday four-balls, but experienced increasing pain while swinging a golf club, and a lack of range of movement in his neck and withdrew,” said Dr. Andrew Murray, Ryder Cup Europe’s chief medical officer. “An MRI was arranged following liaison between Team Europe and PGA of America on-site medical team, which confirmed a flare-up of a previous injury — a disc bulge in his neck by a medical imaging specialist. This morning, Viktor received ongoing treatment but unfortunately he is not able to rotate or flex his neck to one side, making playing the singles impossible.”
© 2024 AFP
