Browsing: Viktor

There is never a bad time for a striker to score, but Viktor Gyokeres’ relief was obvious as he ended a barren run with two goals in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid. It can be the start of a prolific spell, manager Mikel Arteta believes.

After three goals in his first four matches, £64m signing Gyokeres failed to find the net in Arsenal’s next seven games and looked visibly frustrated at times.

But his team-mates continued to praise his overall impact and Arteta said he gave the striker a hug after Arsenal’s 2-0 win over West Ham on Saturday in appreciation for the effort he was putting in.

The 27-year-old has had to play more than was planned at this stage of the season because of a knee injury to Kai Havertz, featuring for 90 minutes seven times in Arsenal’s opening 12 matches.

But after finding his clinical touch again in the thumping win over Atletico on Tuesday, Gyokeres’ tally now stands at five goals in 12 matches and his manager thinks the strikes were reward for his persistence.

“He deserved it because everything that we were seeing in terms of what he was bringing to the team and how much he was helping the team in many areas, apart from scoring goals in the last few weeks, there was no debate about that,” said Arteta.

“It was about keeping that belief in himself, that emotional state that he can enjoy and play freely.

“I think he has certainly done that today, [he had] a big smile on his face.

“Look at his team-mates as well, in the picture and the video, they are all so happy for him because he fully deserves it.”

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Viktor Hovland wanted to play, but he couldn’t. And his withdrawal from Sunday singles at the 2025 Ryder Cup caused a stir as the Americans made a furious rally that came up just short.

The lasting image of Hovland from Europe’s 15-13 win was him fist-pumping in a putt on the 17th hole during a Saturday foursomes win over Russell Henley and Scottie Scheffler. He was 1-1-1 at that point, but a neck issue flared up during that match, forcing Hovland to sit in the afternoon. He withdrew on Sunday after an MRI revealed a disc bulge. With Hovland unable to go on Sunday, the controversial Ryder Cup “Envelope Rule” went into effect. Due to a captain’s agreement, Hovland’s Sunday singles match against Harris English, who was in Keegan Bradley’s envelope, was halved.

After taking time to rest his neck, Hovland is back in action at the DP World Tour’s India Championship this week. Hovland felt bad about being unable to play on Ryder Cup Sunday, both for himself and for English, who had his Ryder Cup cut short.

“The whole situation was pretty upsetting, 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,” Hovland told reporters in India. “He just didn’t get to play, and he was upset about that, and I feel very bad for not being able to compete.”

He was robbed of a Ryder Cup moment he may never have again

By:

Alan Bastable

When the final day of the Ryder Cup started at Bethpage Black, the Europeans held a 12-5 lead after Hovland’s withdrawal. They needed just 2.5 points from the remaining 11 matches to win the cup. Europe’s large lead suggested that Hovland’s WD would not be an important storyline in the final proceedings. But as the Americans put red on the board early, Hovland’s half point looked like it might prove to be the deciding tally in Europe claiming a road win. But Ludvig Åberg beat Patrick Cantlay, while Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre all put half points on the board to get Europe to 15 points.

After Europe finished off the Americans on Sunday, captain Keegan Bradley voiced his frustration with the rule that gave Europe a half point for Hovland’s injury.

“The rule has to change,” Bradley said. “I think it’s obvious to everybody in the sports world, in this room. Nothing against Viktor. But that rule needs to be changed by the next Ryder Cup.”

Hovland understands the frustration with the rule but also noted that it’s part of the fabric of what is supposed to be a friendly exhibition.

The rule has been in place since 1979, but hasn’t been used since 1993. The rule has only been enacted twice. In 1991, American Steve Pate suffered bruised ribs in a car accident a few days before the event. He sat until Saturday afternoon but reaggravated the injury. Pate couldn’t play, and David Gilford’s name was pulled from the envelope. The U.S. went on to win 14.5-13.5. In 1993, European Sam Torrance had to sit with an infected toe. Lanny Wadkins agreed to sit for Team USA, so no name was pulled from the envelope. The U.S. won 15-13.

“It’s tough. 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,” Hovland said. “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 U.S.’s 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.”

Suggesting a rule change is easier than finding one that makes sense. As Hovland noted, forcing the team with an injured player to take a loss would be an easy system to game.

“If you do change the rule and you give away a point, now there’s also the angle that okay, 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,” Hovland said. “So there’s other ways around it, and I don’t think there’s any ideal way to do it. I think that’s just a better way overall 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.”

European captain Luke Donald sees no need to alter the rule. The players want to play. If they can’t, the envelope is there — as it has been since 1979.

“The rule is the rule and it’s been in place for a long time,” Donald said after his team’s victory at Bethpage Black.

Editor’s note: For more on the ‘envelope’ and the history behind it, clickhere for this story written by GOLF’s Dylan Dethier.

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  Mark SchlabachSep 28, 2025, 11:55 AM ET

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  • Senior college football writer
  • Author of seven books on college football
  • Graduate of the University of Georgia

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Norway’s Viktor Hovland withdrew from his Sunday’s singles match in the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black with a neck injury, meaning the teams will split the point from one of the 12 singles matches.

Hovland, who withdrew from his four-ball match Saturday, had an MRI at a New York hospital Saturday night. He woke up Sunday unable to move his neck.

The Ryder Cup said Hovland tried to warm up at Bethpage Black on Sunday but had limited movement.

“There is nothing more I would like to do than be out there representing Team Europe and trying to help them win the Ryder Cup today,” Hovland said in a statement. “Not being able to do so is pretty heartbreaking. I will be backing my team as hard as I can and rooting them on.”

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The substitution rule in the captains’ agreement requires each team captain to submit the name of one player in a sealed envelope who wouldn’t play in the case of an injury to a golfer on the opposing team.

U.S. team captain Keegan Bradley submitted Harris English, who will now sit out Sunday singles. He was scheduled to play Hovland in the anchor match at 2:03 p.m. ET.

Europe now has a 12-5 lead going into Sunday singles.

Hovland, who said he has been dealing with neck pain for the past couple of months, started experiencing pain during his Saturday morning foursomes (alternate-shot) match. He received medication and physical therapy on the course, but the pain didn’t go away.

“An MRI was arranged following liaison between Team Europe and PGA of America on-site medical team, which confirmed a flare up of a previous injury — a disk bulge in his neck by a medical imaging specialist,” Dr. Andrew Murray, Ryder Cup Europe’s chief medical officer, said in a statement. “This morning, Viktor received ongoing treatment but unfortunately he is not able to rotate or flex his neck to one side making playing the singles impossible.”

Hovland, the No. 12-ranked golfer in the world, was scheduled to play with Matt Fitzpatrick in a four-ball match against Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay on Saturday. Shortly before his tee time, Hovland was replaced by Tyrrell Hatton. Fitzpatrick and Hatton won the match 1 up.

Europe needs to win only two of the 11 available points to secure the Ryder Cup after winning 16.5-11.5 in Rome two years ago.

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – The European team moved to within two points of retaining the Ryder Cup on Sunday after Viktor Hovland was forced to withdraw prior to his singles match because of a neck injury.

Per the captains’ agreement, the anchor match between Hovland and Harris English will now result in each team receiving a half-point.

The scoreboard now stands Europe 12, U.S. 5, with 11 singles matches set to begin at 12:02 p.m. local time.

Each team, before the start of singles, has to put a player’s name in a sealed envelope before the start of singles in case of an injury.

It’s the first time since 1991 that the rule has come into effect.

“There is nothing more I would like to do than be out there representing Team Europe and trying to help them win the Ryder Cup today,†Hovland said in a statement. “Not being able to do so is pretty heartbreaking. I will be backing my team as hard as I can and rooting them on.â€

Hovland has been dealing with a neck issue for the past two months and was a late scratch for the Saturday afternoon fourballs session. He was replaced by teammate Tyrrell Hatton, who teamed with Matt Fitzpatrick to win their match.

Europe’s chief medical officer said that an MRI on Saturday night confirmed that Hovland had re-aggravated a prior injury, a bulging disc in his neck. Hovland said Sunday that he was unable to move or flex his neck from side to side.

English, making his second Ryder Cup appearance after qualifying for the team automatically, had gone 0-2 for the Americans in foursomes play.

Leading by seven points entering Sunday singles, Europe needs just two-and-a-half more points to retain the Ryder Cup.

And by the start of the first singles match at 12:02 p.m. ET, the visitors might only require two.

That’s because Viktor Hovland, who was a late scratch from Saturday afternoon fourballs because of a neck injury, might not play. European captain Luke Donald confirmed Saturday night that Hovland was on his way to get an MRI.

“We’ll see in the morning what he’s like,†Donald said. “It’s definitely stiffened up a little bit. He would love to play, and he’ll do everything he can to play.â€

If Hovland can’t go, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley will be forced to open his envelope.

The Envelope Rule, created in 1979, requires each captain, prior to singles, to put one of his players’ names in an envelope, only to be unsealed if a player on the opposing team withdraws because of injury or illness. The player revealed in the envelope would then sit out the final session along with the injured player on the other team, and both sides would receive a half-point, so long as the withdrawal happened up to 30 minutes before the start of the first singles match.

Hovland is set to play in the anchor match on Sunday, meaning that if he doesn’t play, whomever is chosen by Bradley to sit would be removed from the tee sheet and every American underneath that player would slide up a match.

In the past, only two envelopes have been opened. In 1991, Europe’s David Gilford sat out after American Steve Pate withdrew following a car accident earlier in the week. And then two years later, American Lanny Wadkins volunteered to not play following the withdrawal of Sam Torrance because of a foot injury.

Bradley said Saturday night that he hadn’t made his decision yet as to whom he was selecting.

‘We need to go out there and play this tournament the way it was supposed to be played,†Bradley said. “I have to go figure this out now. I’m still learning what’s going on. I don’t know how that’s going to end up.â€

Viktor Hovland isn’t playing on Saturday afternoon. So ‘the envelope’ could be in play on Sunday.

The envelope? That’s the Ryder Cup protocol should someone not be able to play Sunday singles due to injury. Instead of a team ceding the point, the sides agreed that each captain, ahead of the event, would select a player to sit out — and that player’s name would be placed in an envelope only to be unsealed in the case of emergency.

That rule could now be invoked. Hovland had been announced to play Saturday afternoon four-ball competition for the Europeans, then was dropped (and replaced by Tyrrell Hatton) because of a neck injury — and there was at least some question of whether Hovland could play Sunday.

The thought was raised on the NBC broadcast by analyst Paul McGinley, who is also working in an advisory role for Team Europe.

“Yeah, the dreaded envelope may have to come into play,” McGinley said on the broadcast.

“Hopefully that’s not going to be the case. We got a great team of physios with us. They were with us on our practice trip as well and well versed on all the players, a lot of trust in them, so they’ll be working their magic this afternoon.”

Saturday morning, Hovland and partner Robert MacIntyre defeated Americans Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley, 1 up, in a foursomes match. Afterward, Hovland told reporters that he’s had issues with his neck for the past two months, and that he took painkillers on the 7th hole on Saturday and received physio treatment on the 10th hole. He said he then hit shots on the range after the match, and he felt he couldn’t play on Saturday afternoon.

“I didn’t want to risk it for the match in case it got worse and I couldn’t continue,” Hovland said, “especially in four-balls when you are hitting every shot. I had to pull out of the Travelers Championship earlier this year because of the same issue. I played two holes and then I had to pull out, so I didn’t want to do that. I’ve been struggling with it a little bit since then. Not as bad, but similar over the last few months.

“I’m going to get some treatment this afternoon and tonight and hopefully I will be ok for the singles tomorrow.”

Twice, the ‘envelope’ has been in play.

In 1991, American Steve Pate suffered bruised ribs in a car accident a few days ahead of the event. He sat until Saturday afternoon, but reaggravated the injury, and the call was made he couldn’t go on Sunday — and David Gilford’s name was pulled from the envelope.

Two years later, a European was hurt. Sam Torrance was dealing with an infected toe, and he needed to sit on Sunday — but this time, American Lanny Wadkins volunteered to sit, and the envelope was never opened.

Europe was forced to make a late substitution on Saturday afternoon at Bethpage Black.

Viktor Hovland, who teamed with Bob MacIntyre on Saturday morning to beat Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley in foursomes, was scratched from Saturday afternoon’s anchor match because of a neck injury. He was replaced by Tyrrell Hatton, who will pair with fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick in fourballs opposite Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns.

Hovland has been dealing with neck issues for the past few months, including at the Travelers Championship, where he withdrew after playing two holes of his final round. He said that he took some painkillers on the seventh holes of Saturday morning’s match, then got treatment from the team physio, Matt Roberts, on the 10th tee box.

“It stayed the same for the remainder of the match after that,†Hovland said. “But I came in and rested up and got some more treatment, and when I went back out onto the range, I tried hitting some shots trying to build up to the driver. I hit three or four hard ones, and it just got worse. I didn’t want to risk it for the match in case it got worse and I couldn’t continue, especially in fourballs when you are hitting every shot.â€

European captain Luke Donald told NBC’s Cara Banks that he notified Hatton of the potential that Hovland would be unable to go, so Hatton warmed up and was prepared to step in.

All 12 players on each team are slated to play in Sunday singles. If Hovland can’t go then, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley will have already designated a player to sit out via the Envelope Rule. That match would be scored as a tie.

“I’m going to get some treatment this afternoon and tonight,†Hovland added, “and hopefully I will be OK for the singles tomorrow.â€

Viktor Hovland might have found his swing, but he’s still looking for UFOs.

Hovland won this year’s Valspar Championship, despite saying after his victory, “I hit a lot of disgusting shots but they just happened to go where I was looking.â€

Hovland hasn’t been happy with his swing since he captured the 2023 FedExCup title, after which he continued his never-ending quest to get better only to go 19 months without a win.

This week on the range at Bethpage, Hovland has been using multiple training aids and pounding balls and, maybe … eureka!?!

In a video posted by the European Ryder Cup social media team Wednesday evening (and later removed), Hovland told his European teammates, “Yeah, it was good on the range. I haven’t had a range session like that for two years.â€

To which Shane Lowry responded, “F*** yes! Now that’s what I was hoping for!â€

Hovland, making his third Ryder Cup appearance, met the media Thursday and did his best to explain what he might have found in his swing.

“I don’t want to go too far deep into the golf swing, but the golf swing just seems too counterintuitive and almost paradoxical sometimes where I know if I look at my 3D data, like I rotate way faster and way more than I used to do when I first came out on Tour,†he said.

“Some of that is because I’m hitting it further. I’ve got more speed. I’m more dynamic. So then by that data, I’ve tried to almost slow down and not rotate as much off the ball. But then what I do is, I just spin open.

“It was almost a little counterintuitive yesterday where I felt almost more dynamic off the ball, but instead of spinning around, I was moving more up and back. So, it almost kept me more centered and more still, and from there, I can actually use my body like I used to before and not get it stuck.

“So, yeah, this game, it’s so fickle. You try to do something the opposite of what you’re doing, but sometimes that’s not the answer. So it’s very elusive.â€

Hovland was also asked Thursday about his interest in UFOs. The 28-year-old Norwegian explained that it’s part distraction, part genuine intrigue.

“Yeah, just something that I’ve been into the last couple years. I think I’ve always been extremely into my golf, and sometimes you just look at your golf swing and trying to practice hard and you don’t really get the results that you want, it can be quite frustrating, and I think it’s been one of those things that I’ve kind of taken my mind off of golf a little bit,†he said.

“And then the more you go into it, you just get more questions. It’s one of those things that you don’t really find any more answers but it’s very interesting to go in there and kind of challenge some of your beliefs that you currently hold, and you kind of have to expand your mind a little bit.

“I think it’s super fascinating because it touches on so many different topics, as well. I find it really interesting.â€

As evidenced above, Hovland has a lot going on in his mind, which might help him with the New York crowds this week.

“I think you’ve just got to stick to your game, and if you play well, you know, there’s going to be some comments here and there,†he said about possible jeers. “They won’t really come close to the thoughts that I have in my own head. So I think I’ll just laugh it off for the most part.â€

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