American golf fans all say same thing as Viktor Hovland WDs from Ryder Cup Singles

A large number of American golf fans are fuming with the Ryder Cup's 'envelope rule' following Viktor Hovland's decision to withdraw from his Sunday singles match.

The home fans have been reacting to news that as a result of Hovland's WD that he gains half a point. 

Despite receiving treatment for a neck injury yesterday afternoon, Hovland was not fit enough to compete in his Sunday singles match.

The European Ryder Cup star went for an MRI in a New York hospital on Saturday afternoon.

Hovland then woke up on Sunday morning unable to move his neck without discomfort.

As a result of Hovland's absence from the final day, it means the 'envelope rule' comes into force. 

The envelope rule at the Ryder Cup is a contingency plan in case of injury or illness. 

If anyone is unable to play the Sunday singles, the name of the opposing player in the envelope is revealed, and he will not play either.

In this instance, Harris English was the named American player in the envelope for Keegan Bradley's team.

As it turned out, Hovland and English were already matched up in the last match of the afternoon anyway. 

Hovland's WD means English won't play either, and their match is scored as a tie.

That brings the scoreline to 12-5.

Europe now needs just two points in order to retain the Ryder Cup.

They are set to become the first away team to win the Ryder Cup since last doing so at Medinah in 2012. 

The other 11 singles matches remain unchanged.

The decision to award Europe half a point does not sit well with a lot of American golf fans.

Even Justin Thomas shook his head in disappointment at learning Hovland was out and the Europeans had further closed in on victory. 

Some question how it's possible that an injured player deserves to get half a point. 

Watch JT's reaction below:

"What an awful rule," wrote one disgruntled US Ryder Cup fan on social media.

"I mean it doesn't make sense that you should get a half point for withdrawing," wrote another. "The US already faces a steep climb, a half point on the board for the Europeans is not insignificant."

"Such a terribly unfair rule," commented another American golf fan. 

One commented: "This is the dumbest rule I've ever heard... of course he would withdraw and take a tie. How is that not an auto loss. Makes no sense."

Golf reporter Dan Rapaport tweeted: "Am I crazy or should the team with the injured player forfeit the match…?"

Some European fans are tweeting USA should be gracious with half a point such has their week been at Bethpage.

"Well that's 0.5 points they weren't going to get," joked one European fan.

Another commented: "Euros just playing with these guys now.." 

"Americans should be happy about this. It’s half a point they wouldn’t have got." 

Hovland now ends the week of the 2025 Ryder Cup with 1.5 points. 

"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," said a distraught Hovland.

"Not being able to do so is pretty heartbreaking. I will be backing my team as hard as I can and rooting them on."

Ryder Cup Europe's medical officer Dr Andrew Murray said: "Viktor's pain started in the morning foursomes where he received treatment and medication from the physio and medical team on course during the match.

"Following this he attempted to warm up for the Saturday fourballs but experienced increasing pain while swinging a golf club and a lack of range of movement in his neck and withdrew, being replaced by Tyrrell Hatton.

"An MRI was arranged following liaison between Team Europe and PGA of America on-site medical team, which confirmed a flare up of a previous injury - a disc bulge in his neck by a medical imaging specialist.

"This morning Viktor receiving ongoing treatment but unfortunately he is not able to rotate or flex his neck to one side making playing the singles impossible."