Team Europe’s Ryder Cup could have barely gone any better after three sessions, taking a commanding 8.5-3.5 lead into the Saturday afternoon four-ball.
However, their apparently relentless charge to the title has been dealt a significant blow with the withdrawal of Viktor Hovland from the final session of the day.
The Norwegian has suffered a neck injury and has been replaced by Tyrrell Hatton in the four-ball session, with the Englishman alongside Matt Fitzpatrick in the fourth match against Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay.
A statement released by the Ryder Cup confirmed the news, saying: "Due to a neck injury Viktor Hovland is unable to play Match #4 of this afternoon’s Four-Ball Matches.
"Tyrrell Hatton will be substituted for Viktor Hovland in Match #4.Per item 3.c) in the Captains Agreement: For Foursome and Four-Ball:
It is agreed that in the event of illness, injury or other emergency reason to a player selected to play in a match, he may be substituted by another member of the team previously not selected, prior to the commencement of this match."
Hovland played alongside Robert MacIntyre in the morning session of foursomes, where they claimed a 1 up win over Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.
Following his withdrawal, Hovland told reporters: "I’ve had some issues with a neck injury on and off for the last two months.
"I took some painkillers on the seventh hole and then got some treatment from Matt Roberts, the physio, on the tenth tee box. It stayed the same for the remainder of the match after that.
"But I came in and rested up and got some more treatment and when I went back out onto the range, I tried hitting some shots trying to build up to the driver.
"I hit three or four hard ones and it just got worse. I didn’t want to risk it for the match in case it got worse and I couldn’t continue, especially in fourballs when you are hitting every shot."
It's not the first time in recent months Hovland has had to withdraw because of a neck injury.
He cut his final round of June's Travelers Championship short after just two holes.
Hovland added: "I had to pull out of the Travellers Championship earlier this year because of the same issue. I played two holes and then I had to pull out, so I didn’t want to do that.
"I’ve been struggling with it a little bit since then. Not as bad, but similar over the last few months. I’m going to get some treatment this afternoon and tonight and hopefully I will be OK for the singles tomorrow."
While there is no more news on the severity of the injury, Sky Sports' Jamie Weir reported he is expected to be fine for the Sunday singles session, describing the withdrawal as "precautionary."
That will come as a relief to not just European captain Luke Donald, but, unusually, also US counterpart Keegan Bradley.
If Hovland's injury had been severe enough to rule him out, the little-known Ryder Cup envelope rule would come into play, which has the potential to place the captains in an unenviable position.
It requires each captain to place the name of one of his players in an envelope – essentially, the player he is most comfortable not playing in the event a player withdraws.
If all 12 players from each team are able to play in the Sunday singles, the envelope remains unsealed and the player whose name is inside it never finds out it was him.
If Hovland were not able to play on Sunday, the name US captain Keegan Bradley placed in the envelope would be revealed and paired with Hovland, and the match will be halved.
