Overview

• Hovland said an MRI confirmed a bulging disc in his neck, which led him to miss Saturday fourballs and withdraw from Sunday singles at Bethpage Black.
• The withdrawal activated the Ryder Cup envelope rule, halving his scheduled singles with Harris English and contributing to Europe’s 15–13 win.
• Keegan Bradley has urged the rule be changed before 2027, while Luke Donald notes it is a longstanding captain’s agreement dating to 1979 and used only rarely.
• Hovland supports keeping the current process, warning that docking a full point or using an alternate could be exploited, including a potential ‘sacrificial lamb’ scenario.
• Back in action at the DP World India Championship, Hovland said he rested for about a week and a half, is limiting drivers to protect his neck, and expressed regret that English could not play.