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With a clutch 12-foot par putt on Bethpage Black’s 17th hole Saturday morning, Viktor Hovland took a big step toward having the Ryder Cup wind up in Europe’s hands again. But that could also turn out to be the final highlight of the Norwegian’s week.
Shortly after, Hovland was a late scratch from his afternoon fourball match with a neck injury and was replaced by Tyrrell Hatton. Which had many wondering What if he can’t play on Sunday?
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As most golf fans are aware, Sunday’s final Ryder Cup session consists of 12 singles matches in which every member from each team plays. In theory. Because, as most golf fans aren’t aware, there’s an obscure rule that’s part of the Ryder Cup captains’ agreement covering an injured or sick golfer.
It’s known as the envelope rule, and it involves each captain making a tricky and awkward choice. Ahead of Sunday’s session, both captains put a name in an envelope of a player they would sit out if the other team had an injury.
So, if there is someone unable to play than the envelope player from the other team won’t play either. Those two players are then matched up and that match is considered a draw with both teams earning a half point. Here’s more on this rule from the captains’ agreement.
The envelope rule was first added in 1979 when the Ryder Cup expanded to using players from all of Europe. It was first used in 1991 after Steve Pate was sore to play that Sunday after being involved in a car accident earlier in the week. David Gilford was chosen to sit out for Europe.
And the rule was used two years later when Sam Torrance had a foot injury. Lanny Wadkins made things easy on his captain, Tom Watson, by volunteering to be the name in the envelope that week.
The envelope rule is a nice piece of sportsmanship, but it could potentially hurt Team USA this week. Facing a big defecit, the Americans would like as many points as possible up for grabs on Sunday. In any event, all golf fans should be rooting for Hovland to make a speedy recovery.
Main Image: Andrew Redington
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