Viktor Hovland won’t play Sunday at the Ryder Cup. And neither will Harris English, due to the ‘envelope rule.’

What’s the envelope rule? That’s the Ryder Cup protocol should someone not be able to play Sunday singles due to injury. Instead of a team ceding the point, the sides agreed that each captain, ahead of the event, would select a player to sit out — and that player’s name would be placed in an envelope only to be unsealed in the case of emergency. 

It’s now in play, as Team Europe announced that Hovland wouldn’t play Sunday due to a neck injury. In response, the envelope was opened, English’s name was revealed, and each team was given a half-point, making the overall score 12-5 in favor of Europe.

The envelope rule became a possibility after Hovland dropped out of Saturday afternoon’s four-ball play and was replaced by Tyrrell Hatton. Hovland played Saturday morning, but after the match, he took painkillers on the 7th hole on Saturday and received physio treatment on the 10th hole. He said he then hit shots on the range after the match, and he felt he couldn’t play on Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday night, according to a Ryder Cup statement, Hovland had an MRI at a nearby hospital, then woke up on Sunday morning unable to move his neck. He did try to warm up, but his movement was limited and it was decided he couldn’t go.

“I didn’t want to risk it for the match in case it got worse and I couldn’t continue,” Hovland told reporters on Saturday, “especially in four-balls when you are hitting every shot. I had to pull out of the Travelers Championship earlier this year because of the same issue. I played two holes and then I had to pull out, so I didn’t want to do that. I’ve been struggling with it a little bit since then. Not as bad, but similar over the last few months.

“I’m going to get some treatment this afternoon and tonight and hopefully I will be OK for the singles tomorrow.”

Twice, the ‘envelope’ has been in play. 

In 1991, American Steve Pate suffered bruised ribs in a car accident a few days ahead of the event. He sat until Saturday afternoon, but reaggravated the injury, and the call was made he couldn’t go on Sunday — and David Gilford’s name was pulled from the envelope. 

Two years later, a European was hurt. Sam Torrance was dealing with an infected toe, and he needed to sit on Sunday — but this time, American Lanny Wadkins volunteered to sit, and the envelope was never opened. 

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Said Wadkins at the time: “I was a captain’s pick. The other guys have earned their way onto the team with two years of great play. I have played in eight Ryder Cups now and I don’t know how many matches, and I would hate to deprive somebody of the experience.”

On Saturday night, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley said he was unclear what the protocol would be should the envelope rule be enforced. 

He also said he hadn’t talked to the player whose name was in the envelope, which turned out to be English.

Editor’s note: For more on the ‘envelope’ and the history behind it, click here for this story written by GOLF’s Dylan Dethier. 

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