Farmingdale, N.Y. — After his workforce misplaced 15-13 to the Europeans on the forty fifth Ryder Cup in Beth Web page Black on Sunday, US Captain Keegan Bradley mentioned long-standing envelope guidelines for the occasion, together with injured gamers, must be modified.
Nevertheless, Luke Donald, the second European captain to win the back-to-back Ryder Cup, mentioned the principles must be there and stay as they’re to guard gamers.
Various guidelines for captain contracts require every workforce to submit one participant’s identify on Saturday night time and one participant’s identify in a sealed envelope that won’t play within the occasion of harm to a golfer on the opposing workforce.
He was solely known as for the fourth time on Sunday when Norway’s Victor Hofland needed to withdraw from singles as a result of a neck harm.
“The foundations are guidelines they usually’ve been in place for a very long time,” Donald mentioned. “Now we have contracts for causes and contracts for captain causes as a result of circumstances that happen.”
Hovland was planning to play Harris English on Anchor Singles Match. English occurred to be the participant Bradley submitted in his sealed envelope, so he needed to see his actions on Sunday.
“I might have had absolute religion in him to ship the factors at present,” Donald mentioned of Hofland. “He could not play. He acquired the braveness to take action.”
English mentioned: “It went there and smoked not enjoying. However it was what it was and I used to be a part of the group at present and contributed as a lot as I may.”
The workforce halved the match and gave the Europeans a 12-5 lead within the closing session.
Bradley mentioned the rule “should change” however doesn’t specify how he’ll change it. The obvious approach to do this is to lose all factors, not half factors, to a workforce of injured golfers.
“I’ve a number of concepts, however I am not going to inform you proper now,” Bradley mentioned. “I imply, the principles have to vary. I feel it is apparent to everybody within the sports activities world on this room. There’s nothing for Viktor, however we’ll want to vary that rule earlier than the subsequent Rider Cup.”
Donald famous that the US used controversial guidelines when he received the 1991 Ryder Cup 14.5-13.5 on the Kiawu Island Golf Resort in South Carolina. Steve Putty was injured in a automotive accident the night time earlier than the occasion started, and his injured ribs prevented him from enjoying on a single. If the Individuals had been compelled to lose all of the factors, the Europeans would have held the Ryder Cup with a rating of 14-14.
Scotland’s Sam Torrance retracted his toe an infection from his singles match on the 1993 Ryder Cup. Lanny Wadkins volunteered to take a seat for the Individuals. The US workforce received 15-13 on the UK Bell Free, sustaining the final win in Europe, Ryder Cup.
Hovland, who retreated from Saturday’s four-ball recreation, had an MRI at a New York hospital on Saturday night time. He awakened on Sunday and could not transfer his head. Ryder Cup officers mentioned Hofland tried to heat up with Beth Web page Black, however motion was restricted.
“There’s nothing I need to do greater than representing Staff Europe and attempting to assist us win at present’s Ryder Cup,” Hofland mentioned in a press release. “It is fairly heartbreaking not with the ability to do this. I will assist my workforce as exhausting as I can and cheer them on.”
Hovland mentioned he is been coping with heading points for the previous few months, however has begun experiencing the most recent ache throughout a Saturday morning Foursomes (Alternate Shot) match. He obtained treatment and bodily remedy on the course, however the ache didn’t go away.
“The MRI was positioned after contacting Staff Europe and the on-site medical workforce of PGA of America. This confirmed a flare-up of earlier accidents. A neck bulging by a medical imaging specialist.” “This morning, Viktor obtained steady therapy, however sadly he’s unable to spin the neck or bend to 1 aspect, making it inconceivable to play the only.”
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 earlier than tea time, Hofland was changed by Tyrrell Hatton. Fitzpatrick and Hutton received by one up.
