Hovland withdraws from singles match due to neck injury

European Ryder Cup player Viktor Hovland withdrew from Sunday's singles match due to a neck injury, the tournament announced.

Hovland was slated to face Harris English from the American side at 2:03 p.m. in the final singles match of the day.

By rule, the Hovland-English match will be treated as a tie and each team will receive a half-point. Europe now leads 12-5 and needs just two more points to retain the Ryder Cup.

When each captain submits their Sunday singles lineup, they place one player's name in an envelope. That golfer will sit out in the event an opponent withdraws due to illness or injury more than 30 minutes before the first match. English's name was in the U.S. envelope.

Hovland was a late scratch from Saturday afternoon's four-ball session due to the injury after his 1-up victory with Robert MacIntyre over Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley in foursomes earlier that morning. He said the injury has bothered him on and off for a couple of months.