Follow-Ups To Mickelson-Watson Squabbling
Tim Rosaforte, who reported being in contact via text message with Phil Mickelson Saturday night of the Ryder Cup, writes in Golf World that Mickelson learned of his Saturday afternoon benching after warming up and via text message by Captain Tom Watson.
Granted, Jose Maria Olazabal had trouble communicating such things in 2012, but the idea that Mickelson wasn't worthy of an explanation or even prepared that he might be benched all day might explain what inspired Sunday's press conference comments.
Alan Shipnuck's assessment of Watson's work in contrast to that of Paul McGinley is less than gentle.
Watson made little effort to get to know his charges or do any team building beyond a few get-off-my-lawn speeches. He was a remote and disengaged figure in the run-up to the Cup, and once the competition began, he had little understanding of how his players were feeling, physically or emotionally. (It didn’t help that two of his vice captains -- Ray Floyd, 72, and Andy North, 64 -- are decades removed from playing the Tour and the third, Steve Stricker, 47, is now a part-timer.)
While Watson’s counterpart Paul McGinley, 47, was meticulously prepared, having spent years seeking the counsel of his players over long dinners and b.s. sessions on the range, Watson seemed to be making up his pairings willy-nilly. A series of botched decisions for the Friday-afternoon foursomes had a cascading effect that led him to bench his putative team leader, Phil Mickelson, and Bradley, the guy who could have been the team’s emotional juggernaut, for both Saturday sessions. (To that point they had teamed to go 4–1 in the Ryder Cup.) These proud major champions were understandably wounded by the slight, but according to a team insider, what left them more upset was the heartless way Watson delivered the news.
Shipnuck also writes about his inability to talk to PGA of America President Ted Bishop following the press conference regarding the selection process and shares this about Watson.
A veteran of multiple U.S. teams told me in the aftermath, “A lot of s--- went on behind the scenes that people don’t know about. It will all leak out eventually. People talk about Hal Sutton and Lanny Wadkins, but Watson is going to be remembered as 10 times worse.”
John Hawkins puts Mickelson's remarks into context and believes that long term the candidness will benefit the American side.
Not only does this apply to Watson, whose shortcomings as both a captain and communicator turned PGA of America president Ted Bishop’s outside-the-box experiment into a bust, but Mickelson himself. In offering such a candid and visible assessment of the 2014 captain, Philly Mick was roasted by several prominent voices for violating the very essence of appropriate team conduct.
What happens in the team room stays in the team room, or so we’re led to believe. The funny thing about media – some of us chastise guys like Mickelson for talking out of school, then lick up every last crumb, no matter how dirty.
Some of my favorite golf journalists, including Golf Channel teammates Rex Hoggard and Tim Rosaforte, have referred to the U.S. news conference as one of the most awkward moments in Ryder Cup history, and I certainly wouldn’t disagree. It was hard to watch and impossible not to, if you know what I mean.
Perhaps it was also necessary, or at the very least, a much-needed attempt to shake up a system that has produced lousy results for far too long. Bishop chose Watson himself. Why is there no committee for such an important appointment? As I wondered here a couple of weeks ago, why are the U.S. captains’ picks made almost a month before the actual matches – before the final two FedEx Cup playoff events?
Robert Lusetich calls Mickelson's comments "a graceless mutiny of one" and feels players should not need to be invested in the matches via gimmicks like a pod system.
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.
Monday, September 29, 2014 at 11:50 PM
Reader Comments (111)
Of course, but thas is EXACTLY what a really good coach/captain does for the team. They provide them with the tools to be prepared, and the make certain that they are enthusiastic about the game,
One of my favorite examples is Bill Self's pregame talk with his team in 2008 Final Four game against UNC, the great line is "You came to Kansas to play this game." No yelling, no hype.
They went out and basically blew a very good UNC team off the court in the first half, leading 40-12 after 15 minutes.
I detest Azinger's politics and the way he expresses them, but I love the way thinks about golf. Not long ago I watched him in a Golf Channel Academy with Chamblee and was again amazed at how he looks at the the game and how clearly he expresses himself.
Like him or not, you can't suggest that he comes off as anything but a good captain in this pre-cup interview from 2008 -- http://www.golfchannel.com/media/captains-challenge-paul-azinger/
http://www.golfdigest.com/images/golfworld/2014-09/gwsl55-rc-wags.jpg
Now please go away.
Do you really think "all you Americans think he is God", when it comes to the likes of Azinger???
If you are getting that impression, you need to work on your reading comprehension skills.
A good many Americans here, including myself, think that Azinger is a self important gasbag and that his "pod" system is a joke.
He was probably very frustrated too.
Read more: http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/ryder-cup-phil-mickelson-tom-watson-justin-rose-rory-mcilroy-patrick-reed-tour-confidential#ixzz3EolKsXke
But, I agree, duty calls (talk about taking one for the team)...
What is wrong with differing views?
There can be good deal of truth at the extremes.
Best in the next world and all that.
1) I’m an ardent American fan, and love the Ryder Cup. Love it, win or lose.
2) Europe played well this year, got the win they deserved. Congrats! I was hoping for an American win, of course, but that would have been a mild upset, I think. Disappointed again. Is this what being a Cubs fan feels like?
3) Captains DO make a (small) difference. Ryder Cup is usually a very tight contest, and the right captain could tip it one way or another. Tom Watson made many mistakes. A better captain could/would have resulted in an American win, or perhaps closer contest.
4) Realy conflicted about the Watson vs Mickelson squabble. Could see it both ways. On the one hand, what Phil said REALLY needs to be said. On the other hand, not sure if the presser right after was the right place and time. Oh well, let’s criticize him (midly) for doing it, but praise him for taking one for he team and doing what needed to be done. Haha, talk about sitting on the fence!
5) This is purely subjective, of course, but why do some European players get on my nerve with the way they celebrate after big putts, like Sergio? Graeme McDowell is extremely competive, pumps his fist after big puts, but somehow I admire him (“well played!”) when I see that, but not others? Justin Rose is getting closer to Sergio territory for me on the green, but is very classy and gracious in interviews off the green. Weird, how these things appear to me personally.
6) Paul McGinley is first class, from beginning to end. What a gentleman. Happy for him.
7) Sad to see things like religion and politics on this golf blog. I am as non-religious as you can get, but I see some anti-religion bigots here.
8) Can’t wait till 2016!
He had a great debut and I liked the way he mixed it with our lot over here. It would really be good if Reed, Speith and Fowler popped over now and then to play in a few Euro events. Not only would it do their games good, the fans here would love them, not to mention show up the old gaurd in the USA who can't be bothered to fly over a few hours to get here.
@The O (I liked your "Story" by the way) Patrick Reed? Bloody good player, and what a team with Spieth! (Another lapse by Watson not to be on hand to give a quick "chin up" to him during the singles because this excellent golfer is known to have the occasional mid-round wobble - but I digress).
Reed's parody of Poulter was excellent. I am old school as far as needle and fist-clenching go; I think it's for kids, and real hard cases like Hogan or Nicklaus do their competing with balls and clubs (and with a smile whenever possible). But of course Reed IS a kid. He's a bit American, if you know what I mean. But then, he IS American. And I don't mind him saying he's top 5 - the problem is declaring that he's worked harder than the others to get there, which is patent crap and insulting to the others. But he's good. And a threat to the Euro team. Maybe we need some of those "hit it here Fats" signs that Arnie's Army had for Jack... all in good taste and the spirit of international brotherhood, of course.
I should add that my golf course companions were also happy that Art Modell stole away from Cleveland with the original Browns, who became the Ravens. When I pointed out that Modell did to Cleveland exactly what Irsay did to Baltimore, things got quiet. Life is strange. I should add that the most significant encounter I had during my time in Charm City was coming face to face with John Unitas one evening outside the lacrosse field on the Johns Hopkins campus. Much more interesting than the occasional Nobel Prize winner in the hall. But then, I cannot bring myself to say Indianapolis and Colts in the same sentence ;-)
So I don't disagree. But the key point is this makes it sound like he didn't have the decency to tell Phil in person. But he absolutely did.
So I don't disagree. But the key point is this makes it sound like he didn't have the decency to tell Phil in person. But he absolutely did.
''It's just a game''
or
''It's only a movie''