Amid the chaos of the 2025 Ryder Cup, a the rarely seen rule was adopted which resulted in a healthy American, Harris English, sitting out Sunday’s singles matches.
It also cost the US Ryder Cup team a chance to complete a historic comeback against the European team.
In one new interview with CBSEnglish spoke about the Ryder Cup’s “envelope rule” that forced him to sit on the bench Sunday in Bethpage, arguing that the “harsh” rule “hurts” healthy competitors and, perhaps, should be changed.
‘Envelope Rule’ adopted on Sunday at 2025 Ryder Cup
The European team dominated the first two days of the 2025 Ryder Cup, inciting abusive behavior from some American fans and leaving others to fear a historic margin of victory.
;)
The ‘envelope rule’ was adopted at the Ryder Cup, and 1 American is sitting on the bench
Nick Piastowski
But the US Ryder Cup team nearly flipped the script Black Bethpage with a return for the ages in the Sunday singles. Final score: Europe 15 – USA 13.
Although they came up short, the American team had less of a chance to get a point against the European team than they thought they would. This forgives “The envelope rule.”
At each Ryder Cup, each captain secretly chooses one of his players to place in an envelope. With all 24 players competing in Sunday’s singles, if a player is injured before the singles matches, that player and the team do not forfeit the injured player’s match. Instead, the player on the other team’s envelope decides Sunday’s games, and each team is awarded half a point for the game.
Before Sunday’s matches in Bethpage, European player Viktor Hovland determined that a neck injury would prevent him from playing his singles match. As a result, the envelope rule was adopted for only the third time in Ryder Cup history.
This forced US captain Keegan Bradley to reveal who he had put in the envelope: Harris English.
While the rule gave the American team one less opportunity to complete a comeback Sunday against the Europeans, it also forced a healthy English. to miss an opportunity of a lifetime.
Harris English: Ryder Cup Sunday ‘something I’ll never get back’
In a new interview in CBS Golf’s “In Between Shots,” host Patrick McDonald asked English about the envelope rule at the 2025 Ryder Cup, asked if he thought the rule should be changed.
While English stopped short of calling for a rule change, admitting it has been in place for “a long time,” he spoke candidly about how the rule hurt him personally Sunday at the Ryder Cup, as well as how it could affect future Ryder Cup competitors.
“It hurts my ability to play for my team on Sunday, and it’s something I’ll never get back. And I know I may never play in a Ryder Cup again,” English told CBS. “So obviously it hurts the other player who is able to play and loses the opportunity to play.
;)
Alan Bastable
For some context, the 2025 Ryder Cup was the Englishman’s second appearance on the US team. He was also part of the Americans’ victory in the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. While he automatically qualified for the 2025 US team and is currently ranked No. 13 in the official world golf rankingstwo years is a long time. English will be 38 when the 2027 Ryder Cup begins, and there is no telling if he will be able to continue his elite game long enough to make another American team.
English also revealed that he holds nothing against Hovland, whose injury forced the adoption of the envelope rule.
“Viktor (Hovland) was hurt. I know that. He came to me. I know he couldn’t play,” English said.
While English admitted that he did not know how to effectively change the envelope rule, he implied that negative impacts on players should be considered when considering the rule.
“I don’t know how they should change it. I mean I understand you don’t want to have an alternate out there all week. But it’s tough. I know this rule has been in the game for a long time and they’ve only had to use it a few times. It’s just weird that it happened this year,” English said.
You can watch English’s full interview on CBS Golf’s “In Between Shots.” here.
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