Keegan Bradley immediately calls for Ryder Cup adjustment after losing, ‘that rule has to change’

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While Keegan Bradley will be incredibly proud of how his players fought on Sunday at the Ryder Cup, the scoreline means that all of his decisions are going to be put under the microscope over the coming weeks and months.

Team USA deserve enormous credit for taking themselves to the brink of the greatest comeback in sporting history, with Keegan Bradley‘s men starting the Sunday singles seven points behind.

For a significant period on the final day at Bethpage, it appeared that Team USA may snatch the Ryder Cup from the grasp of Luke Donald‘s men. Those supporting Europe would have spent a couple of hours desperately searching for where those crucial last two points were going to come from.

But there was a reason that the visitors began the day within two points of retaining the Samuel Ryder trophy.

Keegan Bradley calls for a rule change at the Ryder Cup

Viktor Hovland was initially named in the lineup for Saturday afternoon’s matches. However, he withdrew and was replaced by Tyrrell Hatton due to a neck injury.

Hovland was drawn with Harris English in the singles. But with the Norwegian unable to compete, the match was declared a tie due to Ryder Cup rules.

At the time, it looked unlikely to make an impact. However, as the matches got closer and closer, Hovland’s half point became more and more significant.

And speaking after the 15-13 loss, Bradley insisted that something needs to be done by the time the two teams reach Adare Manor in two years.

“I have a few ideas but I’m not going to tell you right now. 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 Ryder Cup,” he said, after being asked about how he would handle the situation differently.

The problem Keegan Bradley calling for change after Viktor Hovland’s injury at Bethpage

Of course, there is a danger that the rule could be exploited. But Hovland is one of a handful of players who have withdrawn with injury in more than half a century of competition.

Bradley did not speak about his frustration with the rule before Sunday. So it is hard to have any sympathy now that it has potentially hurt his team.

Perhaps this will indeed prove to be a turning point which leads to a change. But it is a relief that the scoreline was not quite close enough for an asterisk to be placed against the result after Hovland’s withdrawal.