London – Nick Faldo accused Phil Mickelson of “throwing the captain under the bus” with his outspoken criticism of United States skipper Tom Watson following the team's Ryder Cup defeat by 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, then 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-times 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 Monday.
“At least my (European) lot waited a couple of years.
“That should have been a private conversation. There's obviously a bit of aggro (aggravation) in the American team room,” added Faldo, a six-time major-winner.
The lone American victory since a 1999 last-day record rally at Brookline 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,” Mickelson said at a press conference which also featured 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' Ryder Cup victory six years ago.
But Watson countered by saying: “I had a different philosophy than Paul. It takes 12 players to win. It's not pods. It's 12
players.”
Watson insisted he did not see Mickelson's comments as disloyal, saying: “He has a difference of opinion. That's OK. My management philosophy is different than his.”
He added: “I felt we had the very best teams out there possible. The bottom line is they (Europe) kicked our butts.”
Mickelson's fellow US team member Jim Furyk, playing in his ninth Ryder Cup, tried to stay out of the row by saying: “I have a lot of respect for both gentlemen. I've known Phil my entire life. Since I was 16, I've competed against him. He's one of my dearest friends.
“And I have a lot of respect for our captain. I know he put his heart and soul in it for two years. He worked his ass off to try to provide what he thought would be the best opportunity for us.
“I don't think it's wise for any one of us to be pitted in the middle of that.” – Sapa-AFP