Andrew Redington/Getty Images
The entire U.S. Ryder Cup team squirmed in their seats while Phil Mickelson was delivering a brutally honest rebuke of Tom Watson's captaincy after another defeat Sunday. It turns out, they shouldn't have been surprised.
According to an ESPN report citing four anonymous sources who were present at what was supposed to be a team bonding session Saturday night, Watson denigrated his team's play in the foursomes while taking no responsibility for his questionable pairings. He also scoffed at the players' gift to their captain.
ESPN quoted one source that Mickelson was simply standing up for his teammates.
'He was trying to lead the team and protect the team there when he put himself under the gun pretty good on Sunday night. He did that for a lot of people,' the source said.
According to the report, Watson was so 'pissed' when he addressed the team that 'you could hear a pin drop at the meeting.'
Matt Dunham/AP
Watson, according to the sources, told his players, 'You stink at foursomes,' and when Furyk presented him with a mini Ryder Cup signed by all the players, he said, it 'meant nothing to him,' unless he could hold the real thing.
One source was quoted saying, 'It was fairly shocking that he treated this thoughtful gift with such disdain.'
Mickelson reportedly provided the pep talk, individually praising each player and their accomplishments and changed the atmosphere of the room, '180 degrees.'
Watson, it was reported, also greeted several players who had lost their singles matches by telling them they should have played better.
Scott Heppell/AP
It appeared that Mickelson, at the final press conference at Gleneagles, was humiliating Watson while praising Paul Azinger's successful 2008 captaincy by comparison. When a reporter suggested as much, he said, 'Oh, I'm sorry you're taking it that way. I'm just talking about what Paul Azinger did to help us play our best.'
It is now clear what was behind it, as well as the message Mickelson wanted to deliver to the PGA of America.
Keegan Bradley, who was one of those players, called for a change in the way future captains are selected when he appeared on Fred Couples' XM Sirius radio show, suggesting that players be part of a selection committee. Couples, 3-0 as Presidents Cup captain, should be the choice, he said.
The players have taken the high road by not publicly criticizing Watson directly. Even Bradley on that show said he did a 'great' job.
Posted by Unknown on Saturday, October 4, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
0 comments "Report: Tom Watson ripped into U.S. team during Ryder Cup 'bonding' meeting ..."
Post a Comment