Viktor Hovland still regrets "upsetting" Ryder Cup singles withdrawal

Viktor Hovland is looking forward to returning to competitive golf for the first time since being forced to withdraw from his Ryder Cup singles match.

Hovland was unable to take on Harris English on the final day at Bethpage Black after suffering a recurrence of a neck injury during his Saturday morning foursomes victory with Bob MacIntyre.

The charismatic Norwegian partnered the Scot to a narrow win over world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley before being replaced by Tyrrell Hatton in the afternoon fourballs line-up on day two.

His absence was initially believed to be a precaution and Hovland was expected to recover in time to face English in the anchor match on Sunday.

But Hovland's condition worsened overnight and his withdrawal was announced well in advance of the opening singles match, thus invoking the rarely-used "envelope rule" which deemed his clash with English would be declared a tie.

Many USA fans were furious that Europe, who led by seven points overnight, were already half a point closer to their victory target before a ball had been struck on the final day.

English admitted he was "gutted" at being the man to sit out the final session, and he and US captain Keegan Bradley called for a change in the rules ahead of the next Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in 2027.

"It was tough," English said. "I know Viktor is hurt. He sent me a text. He came up to me, and I know he's hurt.

"The rule is what it is; hopefully they'll look at it at some point, but it sucked not going out there and playing today."

And after Europe survived an astonishing USA fightback to clinch a 15-13 victory in New York, Bradley said: "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."

Hovland is now fit to tee it up at this week's inaugural DP World India Championship in Delhi, but he is still full of regret for what happened at Bethpage.

"The whole situation was pretty upsetting," said Hovland, who has been grouped with Rory McIlroy and Ben Griffin at Delhi GC. 

"Just the fact that I didn't get to play, and I felt really bad for Harris, who also didn't get to play a match, even though there was nothing wrong with him. 

"He just didn't get to play, and he was upset about that, and I feel very bad for not being able to compete."

Hovland also hinted that he agreed with English and Bradley that earning a half-point for not playing seemed wrong.

"It's tough," he added. "I think we're so used to in sports that if you can't play because you're hurt, obviously that should be a loss of point. 

"But I think in the spirit of the Ryder Cup and the spirit of the game and the history of it, knowing that this Ryder Cup is just a part of many, many Ryder Cups to come.

"I think it's more of a gentlemen's agreement that, okay, you were hurt this time and maybe the next time there's a guy on the US team and we're all kind of sympathetic about the person being hurt and not being able to play.

"I think there's kind of a mutual understanding that if we were healthy we would all go out there and play. I don't think people are using that to really finagle the system and try and squeak by.

"But if you do change the rule and you give away a point, now there's also the angle that, knowing that the other team is going to put out their best player most likely in the first few groups, they can just kind of put me out as a sacrificial lamb and take the L against their best player. 

"So there's other ways around it, and I don't think there's any ideal way to do it. Even though it's just a tough situation, and at the end of the day, I think we'd all be wanting to go out there and play."