Hovland Forced Out of Ryder Cup Due to Envelope Rule
High Drama at Ryder Cup: Viktor Hovland Withdraws Due to Neck Injury
Norwegian Golf Star Viktor Hovland Forced Out of Ryder Cup
In a surprising turn of events at the 45th Ryder Cup, Norway’s Viktor Hovland has had to withdraw from Sunday’s singles match at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, due to a neck injury. This withdrawal means that the point from one of the 12 scheduled singles matches will be evenly split between Team Europe and Team USA.
Neck Injury Forces Unexpected Changes
Hovland began experiencing severe neck pain during his foursomes match on Saturday morning. Despite receiving medication and physical therapy on the course, the discomfort persisted, leading to his withdrawal from the subsequent four-ball match. An MRI conducted at a New York hospital confirmed a flare-up of a previous neck issue, specifically a disk bulge, as diagnosed by Dr. Andrew Murray, Ryder Cup Europe’s chief medical officer.
Supportive Spirit Amidst Setback
In a statement following his withdrawal, Hovland expressed his deep disappointment. “There is nothing more I would like to do than be out there representing Team Europe and trying to help them win the Ryder Cup today. Not being able to do so is pretty heartbreaking. I will be backing my team as hard as I can and rooting them on.”
Impact on Sunday’s Lineup
The incident affected the Sunday singles lineup, particularly impacting the U.S. team. According to the captains’ agreement substitution rule, U.S. team captain Keegan Bradley submitted Harris English as the player to sit out for Team USA. English was originally set to face Hovland in the anchor match.
- Keegan Bradley chose Harris English.
- Match originally scheduled for 2:03 p.m. ET.
- Europe now holds a commanding 12-5 lead going into the Sunday singles.
Road to Ryder Cup Victory
With Europe needing only two more out of the 11 available points to secure the Ryder Cup, Team Europe is in a strong position to claim victory after their 16.5-11.5 win in Rome two years ago. This unfolds amidst a backdrop of determined efforts by both teams to seize the prestigious title.
Hovland’s Historical Performance
Ranked No. 12 in the world, Hovland had been scheduled to play alongside Matt Fitzpatrick in a four-ball match against Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay on Saturday. He was replaced by Tyrrell Hatton, and Fitzpatrick and Hatton secured a 1-up victory in their match.
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