Ryder Cup envelope rule must change, says Bradley

"The substitution rule in the captains' agreement requires each team to submit the name of one player Saturday night in a sealed envelope who wouldn't play in the case of an injury to a golfer on the opposing team. It was invoked for only the fourth time Sunday when Norway's Viktor Hovland had to withdraw from singles because of a neck injury."

""We have contracts for a reason, a captains' agreement for a reason, for situations that occur." Hovland was scheduled to play Harris English in the anchor singles match. English happened to be the player that Bradley submitted in his sealed envelope, so he had to watch Sunday's action. "I would have had absolute faith in him to deliver a point today," Donald said of Hovland. "He couldn't play. He was gutted.""

"Bradley said the rule "has to change" but wouldn't specify how he would alter it. The obvious way to do it would be to have the injured golfer's team forfeit a full point, instead of a half-point. "I have a few ideas, but I'm not going to tell you right now," Bradley said. "I mean, the rule has to change. I think it's obvious to everybody in the sports world, in this room. Nothing against Viktor, but that rule needs to change by the next"

Following the U.S. team's 15-13 loss in the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, Keegan Bradley urged a change to the event's longstanding sealed-envelope substitution rule after Viktor Hovland withdrew with a neck injury. The captains' agreement requires each team to name one player in a sealed envelope who would not play if an opposing golfer is injured. Hovland's withdrawal invoked the rule, leaving Harris English—Bradley's sealed selection—unable to play. Luke Donald defended the rule as protective and contractual, while Bradley suggested alternatives such as forfeiting a full point and said the rule "has to change."

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