This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/sep/29/phil-mickelson-tom-watson-ryder-cup

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Unpredictable Phil Mickelson shows ruthless side again to sting Watson Phil Mickelson shows ruthless side again to sting Tom Watson
(about 9 hours later)
In making what he regarded as a gesture of old-fashioned goodwill, Sam Ryder said before the launch of his eponymous competition in 1927: “I trust that the effect of this match will be to influence a cordial, friendly and peaceful feeling through the whole civilised world.” Sam Ryder, in making what he regarded as a gesture of old-fashioned goodwill, said before the launch of his eponymous competition in 1927: “I trust that the effect of this match will be to influence a cordial, friendly and peaceful feeling through the whole civilised world.”
Tom Watson, who sometimes talks as if he were born in 1927 (actually, it was 1949), responded eagerly to that sentiment before the 40th edition of Sam’s cup. “While both sides recognise the stature in golf that the Ryder Cup offers, we also respect the importance of conducting ourselves with the highest level of professionalism and sportsmanship,” he said when he led his smiling band into Gleneagles early last week, loins girded for honourable battle. Tom Watson, who sometimes talks as if he were born in 1927 (actually it was 1949), responded eagerly to that sentiment before the 40th edition of Sam’s cup. “While both sides recognise the stature in golf that the Ryder Cup offers, we also respect the importance of conducting ourselves with the highest level of professionalism and sportsmanship,” he said when he led his smiling band into Gleneagles early last week, loins girded for honourable battle.
Indeed, sounding more like General Patton than the captain of a golf team - and blissfully unaware of the treason that awaited him in defeat – he turned to his troops at the opening ceremony and intoned: “Gentleman, I’m proud to have you by my side.” Indeed, sounding more like General Patton than the captain of a golf team – and blissfully unaware of the treason that awaited him in defeat – he turned to his troops at the opening ceremony and intoned: “Gentleman, I’m proud to have you by my side.”
OK, that is a long lead-in to an obvious punch line, but it quickly became clear in the post-match press conference on Sunday night that one player, Phil Mickelson, put his own interests some way ahead of those fine ideals. OK, that is a long lead-in to an obvious punch line but it quickly became clear in the post-match press conference on Sunday night that one player, Phil Mickelson, put his own interests some way ahead of those fine ideals.
He was not by Tom’s side, he was standing behind him holding a dagger. He was not by Tom’s side; he was standing behind him holding a dagger.
In the most public assassination of a colleague anyone present could recall, Mickelson didn’t even name Watson, who was sitting along from him on the podium, preferring a sly alternative: praising one of his predecessors, Paul Azinger, a man he portrayed as a near-saint, a strong leader who also listened – and, in 2008 at Valhalla, won. All the while, Watson had to contain his obvious anger, staring into the middle-distance as if this wasn’t really happening. In the most public assassination of a colleague anyone present could recall, Mickelson did not even name Watson, who was sitting along from him on the podium, preferring a sly alternative: praising one of his predecessors, Paul Azinger, a man he portrayed as a near-saint, a strong leader who also listened – and, in 2008 at Valhalla, won. All the while Watson had to contain his obvious anger, staring into the middle-distance as if this was not really happening.
If Watson and Mickelson ever speak again it is unlikely to be over Christmas drinks. But Mickelson’s calculated attack on Watson’s leadership (which was, indeed, shambolic) exposed modern sport for what it mostly is: ruthless, selfish, cynical. Mickelson gave old Sam and old Tom hardly a passing nod in going straight to the heart of his own agenda, which was hitting back at his captain for ignoring him on day two. If Watson and Mickelson ever speak again, it is unlikely to be over Christmas drinks. But Mickelson’s calculated attack on Watson’s leadership (which was, indeed, shambolic) exposed modern sport for what it mostly is: ruthless, selfish, cynical. Mickelson gave old Sam and old Tom hardly a passing nod in going straight to the heart of his own agenda, which was hitting back at his captain for ignoring him on day two.
He characterised Watson as an insular and stubborn leader who would not heed the wisdom of his senior players. He may well be right. But Mickelson knew what this would do to Watson, a proud and emotional man, steeped in the old values. Even in defeat, Watson blundered on with platitudes: “We arrived united, we depart united.” And he was not talking airlines. He characterised Watson as an insular and stubborn leader who would not heed the wisdom of his senior players. He may well be right. But Mickelson knew what this would do to Watson, a proud and emotional man, steeped in the old values. Even in defeat Watson blundered on with platitudes: “We arrived united, we depart united.” And he was not talking airlines.
The American golf writers, not always keen to look under rocks, were handed a gift of a story but an embarrassment for their country and for golf, which in most country clubs is a religion akin to membership of the Republican party. This was ugly. Lefty had done it again. Why didn’t he keep his big mouth shut? The American golf writers, not always keen to look under rocks, were handed a gift of a story but an embarrassment for their country and for golf, which in most country clubs is a religion akin to membership of the Republican party. This was ugly. Lefty had done it again. Why did he not keep his big mouth shut?
But Mickelson has always been unpredictable. Like nearly all professional athletes, he is a driven individual who struggles to accept the judgment of others. This is a man who earned $48m in 2013 and said he was considering either retirement or leaving his native California for Florida because of an increase in taxes. He is the Tea Party’s favourite sporting son.But Mickelson has always been unpredictable. Like nearly all professional athletes, he is a driven individual who struggles to accept the judgment of others. This is a man who earned $48m in 2013 and said he was considering either retirement or leaving his native California for Florida because of an increase in taxes. He is the Tea Party’s favourite sporting son.
It all makes his paean of praise to Azinger for his collegiate spirit laughable. Mickelson was angry not just because America lost but because Watson had made him look redundant to the cause. It all makes his paean to Azinger for his collegiate spirit laughable. Mickelson was angry not just because America lost but because Watson had made him look redundant to the cause.
Watson, of course, could do no more than respond with dollops of blandness. “The issue between Phil and myself is basically a difference of opinion. That’s the controversy and that’s the issue,” the beleaguered captain said on Monday morning.Watson, of course, could do no more than respond with dollops of blandness. “The issue between Phil and myself is basically a difference of opinion. That’s the controversy and that’s the issue,” the beleaguered captain said on Monday morning.
Well, it’s not the entire issue. What about those fine words of Sam Ryder? What happened to all that sportsmanship and goodwill? Where was that “peaceful feeling” which was supposed to ripple through this sacred event? Well, it is not the entire issue. What about those fine words of Sam Ryder? What happened to all that sportsmanship and goodwill? Where was that “peaceful feeling” which was supposed to ripple through this sacred event?
In reality, the good always exists alongside the bad. Watson and Mickelson pretend they care more about a higher cause than the drug that really drives them: winning. It’s what lifted Watson to eight majors and success in five Ryder Cups, one of them as captain, before he rolled into Gleneagles with his apple-pie smile and rhetoric that harkened back to values that some players – and one in particular – clearly have pushed deep into the rough. In reality the good always exists alongside the bad. Watson and Mickelson pretend they care more about a higher cause than the drug that really drives them: winning. It is what lifted Watson to eight majors and success in five Ryder Cups, one of them as captain, before he rolled into Gleneagles with his apple-pie smile and rhetoric that harked back to values that some players – and one in particular – clearly have pushed deep into the rough.
Of course, all of this will be forgotten in two years’ time. Amnesia is the balm of choice when there is a product to sell to television and those millions of fans who have become addicted to the Ryder Cup.Of course, all of this will be forgotten in two years’ time. Amnesia is the balm of choice when there is a product to sell to television and those millions of fans who have become addicted to the Ryder Cup.
Whoever captains the USA and European teams will mouth the ancient hymn to moral rectitude again, because that is what is demanded. They will forget not just Mickelson’s attack on Watson but his schoolboy jibe at Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell earlier in the week. Whoever captains the USA and European teams will mouth the ancient hymn to moral rectitude again because that is what is demanded. They will forget not just Mickelson’s attack on Watson but his schoolboy jibe at Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell earlier in the week.
They will believe their fine words again. They will even try to instil them in their players. But hanging on to the values that Sam Ryder hoped would sustain this competition indefinitely will be that much harder now.They will believe their fine words again. They will even try to instil them in their players. But hanging on to the values that Sam Ryder hoped would sustain this competition indefinitely will be that much harder now.