Luke Donald has responded to Keegan Bradley’s comments on Viktor Hovland’s absence from the singles session at the Ryder Cup.
Hovland was forced to withdraw from his singles match with an ongoing neck injury that he worsened in his foursomes match on Friday.
This meant that he and Harris English scored half a point each, which Bradley was clearly disappointed with.
Bradley even called for the rule to be changed in future Ryder Cups, as the United States team feel hard done by at Bethpage Black.
Donald has since made his feelings clear about whether he agrees with Bradley’s stance that it was not fair.
Luke Donald responds to Keegan Bradley’s calls for Ryder Cup rule change
Donald rightly pointed out that the rule has been in place for over 30 years and that it has previously benefited the United States.
He does not believe that Bradley and the US team have any reason to feel aggrieved by Hovland’s absence.
Instead, Donald spoke about how disappointed Hovland was not to be able to help the European team to victory on Sunday.
“I think it has been in place since 1991. The US have used it before. It happened before in ’91 with Steve Pate,” Donald explained.
“That was a tight Ryder Cup too, 14-5-13.5. It happened in 1993 with Sam Torrance, who couldn’t play with an injured toe.
“The US won that one. It’s just that we have contracts for a reason and a captain’s agreement for a reason for situations that occur.
“I want to centre it back to Viktor. I would have had absolute faith in him to deliver a point today.
“He couldn’t play today. He was gutted; he was close to tears about not being able to play. The rule is the rule, and it’s been in place for a long time.”
Viktor Hovland’s comments after withdrawing from his singles match at the Ryder Cup
Team Europe announced that Hovland would not play against English on Sunday morning before the singles session started.
The statement included Hovland’s thoughts on having to sit out the final day at the Ryder Cup.
“There is nothing more I would like to do than be out there representing Team Europe and trying to help them win the Ryder Cup today,” he said.
“Not being able to do so is pretty heartbreaking. I will be backing my team as hard as I can and rooting them on.”
Hovland would have been much more disappointed if the USA had completed their comeback, so at least he can still celebrate.
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