[PHOTO: Maddie Meyer/PGA of America]
For an hour late on the final day at Bethpage Black, it looked like the envelope rule was going to be a much bigger issue than it ended up being.
RELATED: Viktor Hovland withdraws with injury, triggering little-known rule
The obscure Ryder Cup rule has been around since 1979, is in the captains’ agreement and essentially makes both captains put a name in an envelope ahead of Sunday’s singles session in the event a player from either team could not play because of injury, illness or some other emergency. If that happens, the name in the opposing team’s envelope will not play singles and each team receives a half point.
On Saturday it was discovered that Europe’s Viktor Hovland had a neck injury and was receiving treatment shortly after he finished his fourball match. On Sunday morning, he had to withdraw. US captain Keegan Bradley’s envelope had Harris English’s name in it meaning their “match” was tied and each team received half a point.
Casting a spotlight on the issue was the fact that Europe needed only 2½ points to retain the Ryder Cup. Giving them Hovland’s half point meant they only needed two points with the 11 matches ahead. The Americans made an epic charge and it looked for a moment like they had a chance to win. Ultimately, Europe won 15-13 and won only one match outright.
Shane Lowry made a six-foot birdie putt against Russell Henley to tie their match, giving Europe the 14th point. At that stage, Europe had only retained the Cup; it hadn’t won it. After producing two more ties, Europe got to 15, meaning the half-point that went to both teams was not as significant.
Photo: David Cannon
Both captains, unsurprisingly, had something to say about it.
“I mean, the rule has to change,” Bradley said. “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.”
Luke Donald did not agree.
“The US have used it before,” Donald said. “I think it happened in 1991 with Steve Pate. That was a tight Ryder Cup, too, 14½ to 13½. 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.”
Donald went on to stick up for Hovland.
“I want to centre it back to Viktor,” he said. “I would have had absolute faith in him to deliver a point today. He couldn’t play. He was gutted.
“The rule is the rule and it’s been in place for a long time.”
