On Sunday morning, few expected the Ryder Cup to become competitive.

So when Norwegian Viktor Hovland (neck injury) withdrew from the day’s final singles match 36 minutes before the first one started, no one blinked an eye as each side was rewarded a half-point and Europe’s lead grew from 11 1⁄2 -4 1⁄2 to 12-5. Harris English was forced to sit because of the “envelope rule,” part of the captain’s agreement that requires each captain to put in a sealed envelope one player’s name who will not play in the case of an injury to a member of the other team.

But it turned out that Europe needed every point it could get as it withstood a fierce U.S. comeback in a 15-13 win at Bethpage Black.

The point from Hovland’s match technically did not matter (Europe needed only 14 points to re

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