Ryder Cup: Bradley calls for rule change after US defeat.

After the defeat of the American team against Europe in the 45th edition of the Ryder Cup, with a score of 15-13, the captain of the United States team, Keegan Bradley, has expressed his desire to modify the tournament rule related to injured players. However, Luke Donald, captain of the European team, who achieved his second consecutive victory in the Ryder Cup, has defended the current rule, arguing that it is in force to protect the players and that it should be maintained. The substitution rule, established in the agreement between the captains, requires each team to designate a player in a sealed envelope on Saturday night. This player would not participate in the event of an injury to a golfer on the opposing team. This rule was applied for the fourth time on Sunday, when Viktor Hovland was forced to withdraw from the individual competition due to a neck injury.

The rule is the rule, and it has been in effect for a long time.

Luke Donald

Hovland, who was due to face Harris English in the final singles match, had to withdraw. English, precisely the player designated by Bradley in the sealed envelope, was forced to watch the action from the sidelines. Donald lamented Hovland’s situation, highlighting that the player was “devastated.” English, for his part, expressed his frustration at not being able to play, but accepted his role in the team. The teams tied their match, which gave the Europeans a 12-5 lead before the final session. Bradley, for his part, insists that the rule “has to change”, although he did not specify how. The most obvious modification would be that the injured golfer’s team would lose a full point instead of half a point.

The rule has to change. I think it’s obvious to everyone in the sports world.

Keegan Bradley

Donald recalled that the United States benefited from this rule at the 1991 Ryder Cup, when Steve Pate was injured, preventing him from playing. If the United States had lost a full point, Europe would have won the Ryder Cup. Hovland, who withdrew from his four-ball match on Saturday, underwent an MRI at a New York hospital on Saturday night. Upon waking up on Sunday, he couldn’t move his neck.

Hovland issued a statement expressing his regret at not being able to represent Europe in the individual competition. The Norwegian golfer, who has been dealing with neck problems for the last few months, felt the pain during Saturday morning’s foursomes (alternate shot) match. He received medication and physiotherapy on the course, but the pain persisted. According to Dr. Andrew Murray, chief medical officer of Ryder Cup Europe, the MRI confirmed an “exacerbation of a previous injury: a disc bulge in the neck.” Hovland received treatment on Sunday morning, but was unable to rotate or flex his neck, which prevented him from playing the singles match. Hovland, ranked as the world number 12, was scheduled to play with Matt Fitzpatrick in the four-ball match against Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay on Saturday. However, he was replaced by Tyrrell Hatton shortly before the start time. Fitzpatrick and Hatton won 1 up.