Mickelson comes under fire for criticism

The US golfer pans captain Watson’s tactics in Ryder Cup loss


Afp September 29, 2014

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Nick Faldo accused Phil Mickelson of "throwing the captain under the bus" with his outspoken criticism of US skipper Tom Watson following the team's Ryder Cup defeat to Europe.

No sooner had the US been well-beaten by 16 1/2 points to 11 1/2 at Scotland's Gleneagles course on Sunday, the senior US team member Mickelson contrasted Watson's approach unfavourably with that of Paul Azinger, who was the last victorious American captain back in 2008.

But English golf great Faldo, the losing skipper in 2008, said Mickelson had made a mistake in being so openly critical of eight-time major winner Watson, who at the age of 65 was the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history, in the immediate aftermath of defeat.

"For him to sit there and throw the captain under the bus, that was a tough one," Faldo told BBC Radio Five on yesterday.

"At least my [European] lot waited a couple of years.

"That should have been a private conversation. There's obviously a bit of aggravation in the American team room," added Faldo, a six-time major-winner.

It’s just a difference of opinion: Watson

Watson, responding to the ongoing fall-out, said yesterday, "The issue between Phil and myself is basically a difference of opinion. So that's the controversy.

"I have to say I'm very proud of my team's efforts. One thing I asked them to do is give absolutely everything and they did that.”

America's last victory in the biennial contest against Europe was six years ago when Azinger guided the US team to a 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 win at Valhalla.

"Unfortunately, we have strayed from a winning formula in 2008 for the last three Ryder Cups," said Mickelson on Sunday at a press conference also featuring Watson.

The five-time major winner, controversially benched by Watson on Saturday's second day of three, cited Azinger's Pod system, allowing three groups of four players to bond together, as central to the Americans' victory in 2008.

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