Tom Watson defends US Ryder Cup captaincy from Phil Mickelson criticism

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/29/tom-watson-defends-ryder-cup-captaincy-phil-mickelson

Version 0 of 1.

A beleaguered Tom Watson has stuck by his approach to Ryder Cup captaincy, with pressure growing on Phil Mickelson to backtrack on his criticism of the eight-time major winner.

A comprehensive 16½-11½ win for Europe at Gleneagles was overshadowed by Mickelson bemoaning his nation’s recent captaincy strategy and, by direct implication, that of Watson. Mickelson travelled home to San Diego via private jet on Monday, the same way as he had arrived in Scotland, with personal matters cited for that move.

Before boarding the US team’s charter flight to Atlanta, Watson said: “The issue between Phil and myself is basically a difference of opinion. He has a difference of opinion where he would like to manage the team and I certainly had my own opinion on how I’d manage the team.

“That’s the controversy and that’s the issue but I have to say that I’m very proud of my team’s efforts. One thing I asked them to do from the beginning was to give absolutely everything they have and they did.

“The European team was very strong and had four of the top five players in the world. When you play against them, you better be firing on all cylinders and, frankly, we weren’t. So that’s it.”

Hunter Mahan, who sat alongside Mickelson in the press conference on Sunday, during which Watson was embarrassed, pointed to “two strong-willed guys who want to win”. Others have objected to Mickelson’s timing and comments. Bernard Gallacher, a former European Ryder Cup captain, joined in that chorus. “Phil wears his heart on his sleeve but I think it was the wrong moment to start a debrief,” he said.

“I think it needs to be done in the cold light of day, when everyone has calmed down. Nothing really works in the heat of the moment, the pressure and disappointment of defeat. They’re all looking around to blame somebody. It needs to be done when everyone has calmed down. I think Phil will regret it in a few days. He will regret saying that. I think it was very unfair.”

Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, has said the European contingent are not of a mind to slow down on a run which has seen them claim eight out of the last 10 Ryder Cups. “America have still won a lot more and that’s what we’re going towards,” said the world No1. “OK, we’ve won eight of the last 10, but we’re still very much behind the US in terms of Ryder Cups won. That is our goal, our main objective: to catch them up and overtake them as quickly as we can.”