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)
Beaks - look what you done did, brother. All because your Peptobismol didn't sit right.
Pretty clear Watson was a mess, but also pretty clear he didn't give a sh1t, if you pardon my profanity. I think he had a good look at Phil and his singular travel arrangements and attitude and considered him no more than a show pony. And Phil felt it, as all precious things feel damaged.
There, there.
I can assure you all that far worse things happen every day, some of them at sea, than being on the wrong side of a golf bet.
Move on. Fry's.com Open is upon us - what joy.
http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/ryder-cup/2014/paul-mcginley-tom-watson-shane-ryan
Repeatedly telling a guy who you benched for 40% of the event that the team needed to play better and they would've won will probably get you an honest answer like that. Is anything Mickelson said wrong? Watson had two jobs, did poorly at both. Clear as day. The PGA pres who ran from the press tells you all you need to know about that clown too....he sure looked proud driving Watson around in that cart tho. Typical golf pro, talk a bunch and not back it up when the chips are down.
I'd also like to agree with 'Ron' about Jordan...kind of. He was unquestionably the best ever on a basketball court (to argue otherwise would be silly), but he is very average on a baseball diamond, and a golf course, and as I remember wasn't exactly the 'team' oriented guy in the lockerroom so maybe he can watch from the other side of the ropes or a hospitality tent????
BTW Ron, I suppose you think Tiger is ducking Rory just like Jordan ducked Hakeem??? What sport are you watching? You belong on a late night call in radio show, not a serious blog like this.
I'll look forward to the book, too, especially if the other Americans are as open about what went on as Phil.
"it was the same take Mickelson had in July when he was paired with Bishop during the pro-am at the Scottish Open. When Bishop suggested Lefty share his thoughts with Watson, Mickelson declined.
“He said it wasn’t his place and I said, ‘Phil, that would be a mistake,’” Bishop said. “(Watson) wasn’t as stubborn or bullheaded as people thought he could be. There is a patient side. Unfortunately, Phil didn’t do that. If Phil is going to be a leader on that team or future teams he should take it upon himself to have that conversation with the captain.”
http://www.golfchannel.com/news/rex-hoggard/bishop-admits-ryder-cup-changes-could-be-coming/
So does this change in any way how Phil's comments are being viewed as a stone cold knifing of Watson ? Obviously he had gotten the picture that Watson was not going to be very inclusive, but it certainly could be viewed as more of a general shot at the PGA of American process.
And I will have to read every damned one of them.
('Cuz I got me a compelsion complex.)
“The greatest thing I witnessed is when Phil Mickelson throws down the ultimate gauntlet when he doesn’t have a comeback to whatever you’ve said. He just says, ‘Well, I’ve won so many majors. Suck on that,’” Kuchar said.
“He can only say that if Tiger’s not around. He kind of has to look over both shoulders and make sure because then Tiger gives him his number.”
Relevance?
"who could psychically "divine" unseen answers to unknown questions."
What exactly does this mean?
It also is reported that he had informed Captain Watson that he was going one day earlier on his own jet for "business".
They left the same day (Monday) on their own jet following the Ryder Cup.
The rest of the team and wives flew together on the Team charter.
I was taking a subtle jab at grr...that nobody could explain it to him. Clearly too subtle. I do passive aggressive like an art and it can work against me sometimes.
Yes Tiger is ducking Rory. And Jordan caught a nice little window where the league was watered down by expansion and no Europeans of significance arrived to fill in the extra jobs. He's a fraud!
Seriously tho, way too many celebs behind the roaps at this thing. 50k ppl following 4 matches so you pick a spot 5 holes ahead and by the time the first group arrives so do 10k and 10 hangers on to block your view. (That said I plan to attend the next one in the US anyway.)
Yeah, I got it pal....artist. Art isn't done in crayon.....
Agree about people inside ropes tho. Was embarrassed for PGA that they let it get so out of hand. Kinda like when they didn't have enough bathrooms at Medinah. Pretty easy stuff to get right.
You've been here a while. It's courteous to credit the individual who worked his ass off to get that interview so you could pass it along through the interwebs. In this case, it was Rex Hoggard at Golf Channel.
Writers are like Colonel Jessop in A Few Good Men. "I can deal with the blood and the bullets," he said. "I don't want money and I don't want medals. What they want is a little respect."
When Shackelford reports stories similar to the one you posted, he conscientiously reveals who wrote it and where it appeared. It's good form for the digital age, but it's also simple courteously.
Keep up thhe good work.
Devin
Damn good questions!
And Pro, I rarely disagee wth you, but I don't think Kuchars word is worth much, from what I saw in Houston- and I am not referring to the choke, but his interactions around the practice putting green.
For all those who think PM is a fraud ( he is not) they would be surprised to see Kooch when th camera isn't on.
You could say the same for the TEAM standing for with Phil. Has anyone (USA RC Member or Assist. Captain) issued a statement for or against either Tom or Phil?
Perhaps they realize it is best to keep this "in the lockerroom".....??
Digs, just posting from an article on Kooch. But it does sound like Phil and Tiger.
Been around Kooch's family a little ....his father is a first class *&^%. Kooch, not too bad, but you are correct, a little big headed off camera.
The one that will surprise a lot of people is Z J ....a real arse. Bible thumping aside, he is a jerk.