Ryder Cup highlights
Harris English story
Ryder Cup envelope rule
Scottie Scheffler golf tips
Ryder Cup controversy
Golf short game advice
Harris English interview
Ryder Cup 2025
Scottie Scheffler chipping technique
Ryder Cup comeback
Dive into the behind-the-scenes drama of the Ryder Cup with Harris English sharing his frustration over the envelope rule that kept him from playing singles. Plus, learn a simple short-game tip from Scottie Scheffler that transformed English’s chipping. English opens up about his Ryder Cup experience, praises his teammates, and reveals insights from playing with the world No. 1. Perfect for golf fans eager for Ryder Cup stories and pro tips to improve your game.
Golf fans, imagine gearing up for the biggest stage of your career, only to be sidelined by a rule that feels like a cruel twist of fate, leaving you watching from the sidelines as history unfolds. That’s the raw emotion Harris English shared about his Rder Cup experience, where an injury to a European player triggered a seldom used rule that dashed his dreams of playing on Sunday. But here’s where it gets controversial. Is this envelope rule fair or does it rob players like English of their hard-earned shot at glory? Let’s dive into his story and unpack what happened, plus a handy short game tip he picked up from golf’s current superstar. Harris English, a talented pro from Georgia, had been eagerly anticipating his role in the US team’s dramatic comeback at the Ryder Cup in St. Simon’s Island. This bianial showdown between American and European golfers is like the Olympics of the game. High stakes, team-based competition that can make or break reputations. English was poised to step into the singles matches on Sunday. a one-on-one battle that often decides the trophy. His two big goals for the year, secure a spot on the team and prove himself in that intense format. But fate, or rather an old rule, intervened. It all stemmed from European player Victor Havland aggravating a chronic neck injury during Saturday’s fourball matches where pairs team up to play better ball. Havland had to withdraw, activating the envelope rule, a quirky protocol both sides agreed to before the event. Think of it like a pre-planned backup. When an injured player can’t compete in singles, the match is automatically halved, meaning each team gets half a point and a specific opponent from the other side chosen in advance and sealed in an envelope also sits out. That unfortunate soul this time. Harris English established back in 1971. This rule has only been invoked four times in Ryder Cup history, including once in 1993, and it’s meant to ensure fairness when injuries strike. Neither Havland nor English played, but both were credited with a half point, keeping the score neutral for that matchup. In his first interview on the topic with Sirius XM, English didn’t hold back, he admitted he was pretty pissed about missing out. “It really sucked,” he said, reflecting on how he was all set to battle on the RDER Cup’s final day, only to be benched unfairly. Havland, showing empathy, noted, feeling bad for English, who was perfectly healthy but got the short end of the stick. I felt really bad for Harris, who also didn’t get to play a match. Even though there was nothing wrong with him, he just didn’t get to play, and he was upset about that. At first, this seemed like a minor footnote in a lopsided European victory. Team USA trailed by a record seven points. But as the drama unfolded, the Americans mounted one of the most thrilling comebacks in Ryder Cup law, nearly erasing that deficit. That half point from the forfeited match, it became crucial in the closing stages, potentially altering the game’s momentum. While it didn’t flip the final score, Europe still won 15 to13. Many wonder what might have happened if Havland had been forced to play through his injury or forfeit the point outright. Could it have changed the entire atmosphere of that nail-biting Sunday? Despite the disappointment, English spoke positively about his overall Ryder Cup journey. He enjoyed cheering on his teammates from the sidelines, marveling at how close they came to an impossible win. “I had a great time watching those guys compete on Sunday and almost coming back to beat the Europeans was incredible,” he shared, noting how he stuttered the pairings that morning and saw a path to victory that nearly materialized. “His full of praise for US captain Keegan Bradley and his squad and is already eyeing the next Ryder Cup in 2 years at Adar Mana in Ireland, hoping to qualify and shine again. But here’s the part most people miss. The silver lining in the setback. A valuable lesson from golf’s best. During a practice round, English paired up with Scotty Sheffller, the world number one known for his precision and poise. Facing a tricky into the grain lie where the grass slopes against the shots direction around a green, English asked Sheffller for advice on a chip he’d always struggled with. Sheffller kept it simple. Square the club face and adjust your stance slightly, hitting it like a standard chip rather than trying to curve it. For beginners, scrambling is all about getting the ball up and down from off the green quickly. And Sheffller’s tip emphasizes consistency over flare. It worked wonders for English, who tried it immediately and saw a big improvement. He’s a magician around the greens, English said, highlighting how they’re both feel players who rely on intuition rather than rigid techniques. This moment underscores Sheffller’s quiet excellence. He’s like the dependable wizard who makes the impossible look routine. English got to bond with him through multiple practice rounds. Learning not just shots but also appreciating Sheffller’s humble nature. Getting to learn from the best player in the world and how nice a guy Scotty is that he can help me with some of those shots around the green to get better at. English added. Sheffer leads in scrambling on the PGA Tour this season, ranking third in percentage, getting up and down about 63% of the time, while English is a solid 22nd, proof that even top pros are always refining their games. Sheffller even has a collection of mind-blowing chip ins over his career, showcasing why he’s a short game master. Now, English is back in action at the RSM Classic, his local event on Sea Island, marking his first tournament since the Ryder Cup. As the highest ranked player in the field, 18th in the world, he’s drawing extra attention, much like Sheffler often does. Who knows, he might channel some of that Sheffller magic to contend for the title. So, what’s your take on the envelope rule? Does it protect injured players or unfairly punish the healthy ones like Harris English? Should it be scrapped for a stricter injury policy or is tradition worth preserving? Share your thoughts in the comments. Do you agree with Captain Bradley’s call for change or side with Europe’s Luke Donald that the rule is the rule? Let’s debate.
