Hey, Phil: Americans lost Ryder Cup because Euros were better, not better-led
Really, Phil?
Throw your captain under the bus in front of the world?
Denigrate a legend of the game who was the last to lead the United States to a Ryder Cup victory on European soil, 21 years ago?
Belittle a Hall of Famer with eight majors in front of the Scots, who revere him after he won four of those majors on their auld links?
And for what?
Because he benched you?
Because he told the world that he not only informed you and Keegan Bradley that you wouldn't be playing on Saturday -- for the first time in your career, you were benched for both sessions -- but he publicly revealed you'd texted him pleading to play?
And you weren't happy about that, were you?
So this was your way of exacting revenge?
A graceless mutiny of one.
After yet another American loss -- Europe has now won eight of the past 10 -- Mickelson was asked why the U.S. won at Valhalla in 2008.
He could have just said that the Americans played better -- which they did -- and for color he could've added that the famous European unity was undermined in Kentucky by Nick Faldo's bumbling, tone-deaf leadership.
But he had a score to settle.
Mickelson -- who always needs to be the smartest guy in the room -- recounted how great Paul Azinger was as captain because he got players "invested in the process."
I could stop right there and say, if you're not invested in the process anyway, then don't play. You're representing the United States, and if you can't get up for that does it matter who captains?
Mickelson went on to say Azinger's tactic of splitting the 12 players into three pods of four -- and giving them a lot of autonomy within those groupings -- was the key.
"He had a great game plan," Mickelson said. "We use that same process in the Presidents Cup and we do really well. Unfortunately, we have strayed from a winning formula in 2008 for the last three Ryder Cups, and we need to consider maybe getting back to that formula."
In other words, Phil likes to have his voice heard, and Tom Watson didn't listen.
In the Presidents Cup, Mickelson's captains have been Jack Nicklaus and Fred Couples, both hands-off leaders who let the players make decisions.
Corey Pavin certainly wasn't like this -- he let his wife run the show, but that's another story -- but Davis Love III was more a peer than a captain.
In fact, when Mickelson fatefully said he and Bradley shouldn't play in the fourth session in Chicago -- the one that saw the Euros gain a glimmer of hope -- Love had his reservations but signed off on it because Phil's always right.
Except when he's not.
Watson is an old-school general; he expects the troops to follow his orders.
Not that he was right too often here, because he made critical errors -- including benching Mickelson and Bradley for the entire day on Saturday -- but surely he deserves some respect.
A lot more respect than Mickelson paid him.
"Uh ... no, nobody here was in any decision," Mickelson replied when asked about the decision making. Suffice to say that it created one of the most awkward press conferences in golf history.
In response, Watson took the high road.
"I had a different philosophy as far as being a captain of this team," he said. It takes 12 players to win. It's not pods, it's 12 players. I did talk to the players, but ... I had a different philosophy than Paul. I decided not to go that way."
And then he touched on the real story of this Ryder Cup.
"Listen, the Europeans kicked our butts," he said. "The bottom line is they kicked our butts. They were better players this week."
And that's the unpalatable truth for Mickelson and his teammates.
They got beat.
Time and again, they'd get some early momentum and then let it slip, and the Europeans would come back to win the day. In the singles, Jordan Spieth had a putt to go 4 Up on Graeme McDowell in the opening match. But instead of inspiring the Americans, it was Europe that was lifted when GMac came back to win.
Hunter Mahan had Justin Rose 4 down and could only square their match.
Had those two delivered wins, the U.S. would have been only one point behind with a lot of golf to be played. But instead, Sunday went the same way as Friday and Saturday.
"Five of you have already asked me tonight what's the winning formula and what's the difference, year in, year out," American Jim Furyk said. "If I could put my finger on it, I would have changed this s*** a long time ago. But we haven't, and we are going to keep searching."
Maybe because they're looking in the wrong places. Furyk on Sunday lost for the 20th time, a Ryder Cup record. Mickelson has lost 19 times. There's the problem.
Match play isn't complicated. Just find a way to win.
And while the Americans are searching for answers in pods and systems and pointing fingers at their captain, the Europeans are willing to do whatever it takes.
