The only two players in Ryder Cup history who have had to forfeit playing in the Sunday singles matches

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The Ryder Cup has a long and rich history of being one of the best and most fiercely contested events in the world of sport.

This year, Bethpage Black will play host to the Ryder Cup, and excitement amongst fans has already reached fever pitch.

Keegan Bradley will be looking to wrestle the trophy back from European captain Luke Donald, and both teams will fancy their chances of leaving Bethpage victorious.

Rick Shiels has predicted that Europe will win the Ryder Cup, but that will be an incredibly difficult thing to do, what with the red-hot atmosphere that is set to be created by the New York fans at Bethpage.

There are numerous issues which could spark flare-ups at the Ryder Cup, and that is what makes the competition so popular amongst fans.

There is much more of a raucous atmosphere at the Ryder Cup than during other golf tournaments throughout the year.

However, the spirit with which the Ryder Cup was intended to be played when the competition started in 1927 is still very much alive, to an extent at least.

Only two players in Ryder Cup history have forfeited playing in the singles matches

Before the Ryder Cup begins, both captains have to hand over an envelope containing the name of one of their respective players.

The rule came into effect in 1979, and it seems like a very fair way to deal with very unfortunate circumstances.

Should a player suffer an injury on either team ahead of the singles matches on Sunday, whichever player’s name is in the envelope then has to forfeit playing on the final day of the competition, and their match is halved.

This has only been called into action twice in the history of the Ryder Cup.

The first time was at Kiawah Island in 1991 when Steve Pate was involved in a car crash in the build-up to the Ryder Cup and sustained a lingering rib injury as a result.

He battled through the pain during the first two days but was unable to compete in the singles matches.

David Gilford was the unfortunate member of the European team who had to sit out on Sunday, with a half point being awarded to both teams.

History repeated itself two years later at the Belfry, but this time it was an American who was forced to sit out their singles match.

Lanny Wadkins’ remarkable Ryder Cup sacrifice

Sam Torrance suffered one of the most bizarre injuries in the history of the sport in general.

During the 1993 Ryder Cup at the Belfry, Torrance sustained sternum and toe injuries after sleepwalking into a plant at his hotel.

As a result, the Scot was unable to play in the singles matches but in what was somewhat of a twist, the American golfer whose name was in the envelope was actually able to play due to a selfless act by Lanny Wadkins..

Wadkins told captain Tom Watson that he would sit out the singles because he had already played three matches and someone else deserved their chance.

What a classy move that was from the American.

Let’s hope that the envelopes do not need to be used this week at Bethpage, with the most exciting Ryder Cup of all time potentially lying on the horizon.