Hovland out of Ryder Cup, invoking envelope rule

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- Norway's Viktor Hovland withdrew from his Sunday's singles lucifer successful the 45th Ryder Cup astatine Bethpage Black with a cervix injury, meaning the teams volition divided the constituent from 1 of the 12 singles matches.

Hovland, who withdrew from his four-ball lucifer connected Saturday, had an MRI astatine a New York infirmary connected Saturday night. He woke up Sunday incapable to determination his neck.

The Ryder Cup said Hovland tried to lukewarm up astatine Bethpage Black connected Sunday but had constricted movement.

"There is thing much I would similar to bash than beryllium retired determination representing Team Europe and trying to assistance them triumph the Ryder Cup today," Hovland said successful a statement. "Not being capable to bash truthful is beauteous heartbreaking. I volition beryllium backing my squad arsenic hard arsenic I tin and rooting them on."

The substitution regularisation successful the captains' statement requires each squad skipper to taxable the sanction of 1 subordinate successful a sealed envelope who wouldn't play successful the lawsuit of an wounded to a golfer connected the opposing team.

U.S. squad skipper Keegan Bradley submitted Harris English, who volition present beryllium retired Sunday singles. He was scheduled to play Hovland successful the anchor lucifer astatine 2:03 p.m. ET.

Europe present has a 12-5 pb going into Sunday singles.

Hovland, who said he's been dealing with cervix symptom for the past mates of months, started experiencing symptom during his Saturday greeting foursomes (alternate-shot) match. He received medicine and carnal therapy connected the course, but the symptom didn't spell away.

"An MRI was arranged pursuing liaison betwixt Team Europe and PGA of America on-site aesculapian team, which confirmed a flare up of a erstwhile wounded -- a disk bulge successful his cervix by a aesculapian imaging specialist," Dr. Andrew Murray, Ryder Cup Europe's main aesculapian officer, said successful a statement. "This morning, Viktor received ongoing attraction but unluckily helium is not capable to rotate oregon flex his cervix to 1 broadside making playing the singles impossible."

Hovland, the No. 12-ranked golfer successful the world, was scheduled to play with Matt Fitzpatrick successful a four-ball lucifer against Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay connected Saturday. Shortly earlier his tee time, Hovland was replaced by Tyrrell Hatton. Fitzpatrick and Hatton won 1 up successful the match.

Europe needs to triumph lone 2 of the 11 disposable points to unafraid the Ryder Cup aft winning 16.5-11.5 successful Rome 2 years ago.