By Craig Swan

Copyright dailyrecord

Whining Keegan Bradley called for a rule change after losing the Ryder Cup . But counterpart Luke Donald fired straight back and pointed out it’s the Americans who have used it to their benefit in the past. Viktor Hovland landed a half point for Europe in the Sunday Singles without even making the golf course. The Norwegian was forced to withdraw from the event prior to his clash against Harris English. Heartbroken Hovland had to take painkillers during Saturday’s action and went for an MRI scan in New York to get checked. He tried to play on Sunday, but couldn’t warm up properly and it brought the envelope into play. Due to Rule 3d signed by both Donald and Keegan Bradley in the Ryder Cup Captains’ Agreement, each skipper is required to provide the name of one player, in the sealed envelope, who will not play in the case of an injury to a member of the other team. The USA Team player was English. Rule 3d reads: “When the Captain’s lodge their team selection for singles play, they must provide a sealed envelope containing the name of one player who is regarded as having been paired with a player who, through illness, injury or other emergency reason, has to withdraw from the other side. Such pairing is regarded as a tied match. If this requires the re-pairing of a match, this will be done down the order of the play.” But as the United States pushed and pushed, that half-point became increasingly valuable, and the contest’s outcome came down to fine margins. Bradley wasn’t happy afterwards and said: “Yeah, it has to change. I have a few ideas but I’m not going to tell you right now. I mean, the rule has to change. “I think it’s obvious to everybody in the sports world, in this room. Nothing against Viktor. But that rule needs to change by the next Ryder Cup.” However, Donald was straight to the point when that was put to him and didn’t mess around as he responded: “I think it’s been in place since 1971. The US has used it before. I think it happened in 1991 with Steve Pate. “That was a tight Ryder Cup, too, 14½-13½. It happened in 1993. Sam Torrance couldn’t play with an injured toe. The US won that one. We have contracts for a reason, a Captains’ Agreement for a reason, for situations that occur. “I want to centre it back to Viktor. I would have had absolute faith in him to deliver a point today. He couldn’t play. He was gutted. The rule is the rule and it’s been in place for a long time.”