Luke Donald confirmed Viktor Hovland was obtainting an MRI scan nearby for his neck issue, following the completion of yesterday’s fourballs. This was how the Europe captain described the situation ahead of today:
💬 “We’ll see in the morning what he’s like. It’s definitely stiffened up a little bit. He would love to play, and he’ll do everything he can to play.”
So, what happens if Hovland’s doesn’t create it?
Well, his withdrawal would required to come 30 minutes before the start of play — otherwise Europe would forfeit his singles match and gift the U.S. a point. That should be straightforward for Europe to avoid.
Once Hovland’s absence is confirmed, Keegan Bradley’s pick for who on his team would sit out if a European player withdrew, will become public knowledge and they will withdraw from their singles match. That pick was submitted along with the captain’s singles picks yesterday.
Effectively, Hovland and the withdrawn player are treated as though they played each other and halve that match.
Assuming the U.S. player isn’t Harris English, which feels unlikely, it will then be English who slips into the slot vacated by the dropped teammate to play that match as scheduled.
You would like to consider the team knows who the player in the ‘envelope’ is — as leaving it a surprise to everyone would feel like a pretty bad piece of management.
Even if it will come as a surprise to the rest of the world.
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