Europe squandered the comeback hopes of the United States with a 15-13 victory in an exciting Ryder Cup, with a controversial neck injury on Sunday, September 29, at Bethpage Black Golf Club in New York. 

 The neck injury of European golfer Viktor Hovland during Saturday’s tournament play caused him to forfeit his Sunday match and resulted in a point being split between the teams. It also forced Harris English to sit out the final day. This sparked a debate about the longstanding envelope rule and its role in hindering a great United States comeback. 

The Envelope Rule has been a part of the Ryder Cup for years. The rule consists of the captains of either team submitting an envelope stating if a player drops out due to an injury, the player who is injured is paired with the player in the envelope, and a point is split, with that player being Harris English. 

In a story from Forbes.com, the United States captain, Keegan Bradley, is quoted as saying, “I mean, the rule has to change.” He goes on, “ I think it is obvious to everybody in the sports world, in this room. Nothing against Viktor. But the rule has to change by the next Ryder Cup”.

With the impact of the Enveople Rule in this year’s Ryder Cup, it will be interesting to see if this rule is changed or removed entirely, or if it is kept, and if it will affect the 2027 Ryder Cup in Limerick, Ireland.