Paige Spiranac has taken aim at what she called a “d*mb” Ryder Cup rule that, in her view, unfairly favored Team Europe in their dramatic win over the United States.
Moments before the final day’s singles matches began, European golfer Viktor Hovland was forced to withdraw due to a neck injury. Under the rarely used “Envelope Rule,” his match against America’s Harris English was automatically halved, giving Europe an extra half-point before play even started. That adjustment meant Europe needed just 1.5 more points to secure victory, frustrating U.S. fans who saw it as an unfair advantage.
Spiranac, a former golf pro turned social media star, voiced her frustration on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “It’s a bummer Hovland is hurt and can’t play, but it should be an automatic point to the other team. Getting a half point is crazy!” She followed up with another post, adding, “The rule was dumb 30 years ago. The rule is dumb now. The rule is dumb regardless of which teams it helps. The rule is dumb and should be changed.”
Team USA captain Keegan Bradley echoed her sentiment after the event, saying the rule “has to change by the next Ryder Cup.” However, Europe’s captain Luke Donald defended the system, noting that it has existed since the early 1970s and has benefited both sides over the years. As the debate continues, the controversy has added an extra layer of tension to one of golf’s most storied rivalries.
