Viktor Hovland Regrets Awkward Ryder Cup Withdrawal
Viktor Hovland regretted his withdrawal from the Ryder Cup Sunday singles. He had a neck issue that flared up after a Saturday morning foursomes victory.
Hovland completed a Saturday morning foursomes victory alongside Robert MacIntyre, holing a long par putt on the 17th green to preserve a 1-up win over Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.
He then sat out the afternoon session due to his neck issue and got an MRI on Saturday evening, revealing a bulging disk.
Hovland still hoped to play singles and warmed up on Sunday morning before withdrawing, which resulted in a half point for both teams.
He acknowledged that his Sunday withdrawal was tricky and felt bad for Harris English, who also didn't get to play a match.
"The whole situation was pretty upsetting," Hovland said, adding that he felt really bad for English, who was upset about not playing.
Hovland had texted and spoken to English about the situation, showing his concern for the American player.
According to the Ryder Cup captain's agreement, in the event of an injury for singles, both teams are awarded a half point if one player is injured and can't play.
Hovland thinks this rule is in the spirit of the Ryder Cup and the game, but also acknowledges that it's tough and there's no ideal way to handle such situations.
He mentioned that changing the rule could lead to teams putting out weaker players to take a loss against stronger opponents.
Viktor Hovland is now focusing on the DP World India Championship, which starts on Thursday at the Delhi Golf Club.
The New Delhi golf course suits his game, being narrow and not requiring a lot of distance.
Hovland is looking forward to competing in the tournament after waiting until last week to swing a club due to his ongoing neck issue.
He made a late decision to compete in the DP World India Championship, showing his determination to play despite his injury.
The 28-year-old Norwegian golfer is ready to take on the challenge and perform well in the tournament.