A little-known rule could come into play as the 45th Ryder Cup enters its deciding final day showdown at Bethpage Black.
Luke Donald’s Europeans continued their assault on the Americans on the second day of the Battle of Bethpage, extending their commanding lead to five points following another dominant display in Saturday’s foursomes.
But the steamrolling Europeans hit a road bump on Saturday afternoon when Viktor Hovland was forced to withdraw from the afternoon session with a neck injury.
Fresh off taking down world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley with Robert MacIntyre, the Norwegian was lined up to partner Matt Fitzpatrick in the final match of the fourball sessions. Instead, Tyrrell Hatton was forced to step in against Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay.
While details on the gravity of Hovland’s injury remain scarce, it has cast doubt over his ability to tee it up in Sunday’s singles showdown.
And if the 28-year-old is indeed unable to duel it out over the mighty Bethpage Black, it could unleash one of the tournament’s most closely guarded secrets.
European star Viktor Hovland pulled out of Saturday’s afternoon session due to injury
Since 1979, at every Ryder Cup, each captain is assigned an incredibly awkward task, known as the envelope rule.
Before Friday’s first tee shot was hit, both Donald and Keegan Bradley would have sealed the name of one of their players in an envelope.
That player will sit out the Sunday session in the case that the opposing team can’t field one of their own through injury or illness. In the case of the forfeited match, the two teams would split the point.
The contents of the envelopes remain top secret, likely in order to spare players’ feelings, and are only unveiled in emergency situations.
The decision is viewed as one of the most uncomfortable decisions in sports as each captain is essentially forced to name which of their 12 men they trust the least.
The seal has only been broken at two previous Ryder Cups. The rule first came into play at Kiawah Island in 1991 when European captain Bernard Gallacher was forced to reveal his chosen name.
Rookie Steve Pate had sustained injuries during a car crash earlier in the week and, despite having played in Saturday’s afternoon session, US captain Dave Stockton deemed him unable to play.
Pate, who lost lost 2 and 1 to Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie with Corey Pavin in his only match of the tournament, had been slated to face legend Seve Ballesteros in the singles.
The envelope rule last came into play for US captain Tom Watson at the 1993 Ryder Cup
His withdrawal forced Gallacher to reveal David Gilford, a 26-year-old rookie, as the name sealed in his envelope.
In 1993, European icon Sam Torrence was unable to go for the Sunday singles at The Belfry due to an infected toe. His injury activated the envelope rule, revealing veteran Lanny Wadkins.
Given his success at the tournament, Wadkins’ selection came as a surprise but it was later revealed that he had volunteered to be US captain Tom Watson’s designated envelope player.
NBC reported Hovland had been struggling in his foursomes game and that the European team had been monitoring the injury. Hatton was also told to be prepared to step in, according to the broadcaster.
Hovland also withdrew from the Travelers Championship in June due to a neck injury.
However, Bradley may be let off the hook this weekend as it has been suggested Hovland will be fine to play in tomorrow’s singles.
