American Ryder Cup star Harris English has spoken of his profound disappointment at being forced to miss the competition's dramatic final day singles matches, sidelined by one of golf's most debated regulations.
The 'Envelope Rule' That Decided His Fate
The world number 13 was the unlucky player omitted from the Sunday line-up at Bethpage Black after Europe's Viktor Hovland withdrew on the eve of the singles due to a neck injury. This triggered the seldom-used 'envelope rule', where each captain secretly nominates one of his own players as a standby. If an opponent is injured, that nominated player also sits out, with both sides receiving half a point.
This was only the third time in Ryder Cup history the rule has been enacted. Having lost both his foursomes matches partnering Collin Morikawa, English was the player US captain Keegan Bradley had placed in the envelope, effectively judging him the team's weakest performer at that stage.
A Painful Sacrifice and a Nail-Biting Finish
The 36-year-old, a five-time PGA Tour winner, did not hide his feelings about the situation. "It hurts my ability to play for my team on Sunday, and it's something I'll never get back," English confessed. "And I know that I might not ever play a Ryder Cup again. So it definitely hurts."
Europe, leading 11.5 to 3.5 after Saturday's play, gained an extra half-point from Hovland's withdrawal, moving them to within two points of retaining the trophy. Despite this, the USA mounted a fierce comeback on the final afternoon, creating a tense climax that saw Shane Lowry eventually secure the decisive 14th point for Europe by halving his match with Russell Henley.
"I was in the locker room warming up, getting ready to play," English recalled of the moment he learned his fate. "I knew Viktor wasn't playing well from the day before. Yeah, it was tough to get that news... We almost had an unbelievable comeback. Every single guy was playing some really good golf and we nearly had an all-time epic comeback."
Calls for Change and a Rule Under Scrutiny
In the emotional aftermath of the narrow home defeat, US captain Keegan Bradley was forthright in his criticism. "I think it's obvious to everybody in the sports world," Bradley stated. "Nothing against Viktor. But that rule needs to change by the next Ryder Cup."
English, however, offered a more measured perspective, acknowledging the genuine nature of Hovland's injury. "Viktor was hurt. I know that. He came up to me. I know he couldn't play," he said. While understanding the logistical challenges of having an alternate on standby all week, English admitted the outcome was hard to bear. "It just sucks it happened this year," he concluded, highlighting the rare but crushing impact of the longstanding rule.
