Mark SchlabachSep 28, 2025, 05:13 AM

CloseSenior college football writer
Author of seven books on college football
Graduate of the University of Georgia

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Norway’s Viktor Hovland had to pull out of his Saturday afternoon four-ball match because of a neck injury, putting his ability to play in Sunday singles at the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in jeopardy.

“I didn’t want to risk it for the match in case it got worse and I couldn’t continue, especially in four-balls when you are hitting every shot,” Hovland said. “I’m going to get some treatment this afternoon and tonight and hopefully I will be OK for the singles tomorrow.”

Hovland was set to undergo an MRI, according to Europe captain Luke Donald, and the team will see how he feels Sunday morning. He’s scheduled to tee off last against Harris English in singles play.

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If Hovland cannot play Sunday, the Ryder Cup’s envelope rule will be in play. Before each captain sets their Sunday singles lineup, he puts a player’s name inside an envelope at his discretion. If a player on either team can’t play due to injury — in this case, it would be Hovland — then the American name that Keegan Bradley has put in the envelope will withdraw, making the match a draw and giving each team half a point.

“We need to go out there and play this tournament the way it was supposed to be played,” Bradley said when asked about the envelope rule. “I have to go figure this out now. I’m still learning what’s going on I don’t know how that’s going to end up.”

Hovland, the No. 12-ranked golfer in the world, was scheduled to play in the anchor four-ball (best ball) match with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick on Saturday. Shortly before his scheduled tee time, he was replaced by England’s Tyrrell Hatton in the match against Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay.

The captains’ agreement allows teams to make substitutions for injured golfers prior to the match. Hatton and Fitzpatrick won 1 up over Burns and Cantlay, helping the Europeans end Saturday with an 11.5-4.5 lead.

Hovland said he has been dealing with the injury for the past couple of months; he had to pull out of the Travelers Championship in June because of neck pain.

Hovland and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre defeated Russell Henley and Scottie Scheffler, 1 up, in a foursomes (alternate shot) match earlier Saturday.

“I took some painkillers on the seventh hole and then got some treatment from Matt Roberts, the physio, on the 10th tee box,” Hovland said. “It stayed the same for the remainder of the match after that. But I came in and rested up and got some more treatment, and when I went back out onto the range, I tried hitting some shots trying to build up to the driver. I hit three or four hard ones and it just got worse.”