Ryder Cup; Phil Mickelson on Captaincy.

[Frank Manning]

Delighted as I am that Europe won the Ryder Cup so convincingly, I did spare a thought for Tom Watson, who has graced the fairways of the world with easy charm and enormous talent for so long. It was a shock to hear Phil Mickelson publicly criticise Tom at the post match press conference, and in front of him. Surely that kind of thing is reserved for football, dancing divas, and Kevin Pietersen.

If Mickelson was that concerned, a quiet word or two with Tom, privately, would be more appropriate.

[Boris+]

Frank, I have to agree with you on this - it just came across as 'not being cricket' sort of thing.

Em

[david63]

it just came across as 'not being cricket' sort of thing.

That's because it's golf

[Boris+]

There's nothing worse than a sore loser or someone who makes remarks which maybe in hindsight oughtn't to have been made. I wonder who the new Captain will be?

All that aside, isn't it about time that young RM got himself a nice green jacket? That would make my day.

Em

[gfwgfw]

OK it got off rather unpleasantly, but the golf was simply awesome

[Quizzical Bob]

OK it got off rather unpleasantly, but the golf was simply awesome

It's golf. Grown men hitting a little white ball around an oversized lawn. How can it ever be 'awesome'?

[Dark Knight]

it proves that great players do not make good managers or captains, in this case
I agree with Phil's comments but they should have been made in private ,not publicly
how Mickelson was side lined ,when he is there best and most experienced player is beyond the wit of man

[kaymar]

At 44, Mickelson is no longer in the first flush of youth - "in his last few holes" as McIlroy put it, and is no longer the player he was. He suffers from arthritis, lost his match on Friday afternoon and his coach said he looked tired. Seems like plenty of reasons for leaving him out on Saturday, at least for one of the matches.

For years, he appears to have hidden a nasty streak behind his goofy grin and country bumpkin manner, always ready with a sarcastic put-down, disguised as a "joke". This time, he was completely out of order, even if he might have been right.

An excellent three days' viewing, though.

[Jan Rosser]

it proves that great players do not make good managers or captains, in this case
I agree with Phil's comments but they should have been made in private ,not publicly
how Mickelson was side lined ,when he is there best and most experienced player is beyond the wit of man

Now I do not profess to be an expert but I read an article today in The Times sports section about the Ryder Cup and am quoting them so please don't shoot me. It says that Mickelson has a very ordinary record in games played at the Ryder Cup - 16 wins, 19 losses which equates to 0.46 points per game which is significantly below the 0.6 that a player of his calibre should aspire to. It goes on to say that he cannot blame this purely on poor leadership. I am saying this because I felt he should not have voiced his opinion of Tom Watson so publicly - should have been done in private however I do not have the knowledge to say whether he was right or wrong in his criticism.

[gfwgfw]

OK it got off rather unpleasantly, but the golf was simply awesome

It's golf. Grown men hitting a little white ball around an oversized lawn. How can it ever be 'awesome'?

Sacrebleu

[Boris+]

Ooooooh yes it is thoroughly and completely awesome. Watching golf is brilliant - but playing golf truly floats my boat.

A perfect shot - the sound of it, the sight of it - don't get me started. I just wish I could still play.

Em

[gfwgfw]

Ems

Being an honorary member of a very exclusive Dorset golf club

Just lub to give you a good hit around our demanding links . . . and course, end up at the nineteenth for a very oh so simply but great rural Darzet extravaganza luncheon

Lubooo lots

Graham x

[Boris+]

Hi Graham,

Links courses are just the best! I can't play anymore for health reasons - and anyway if I did go out and try it would mess up a round for everyone else; and that's not my style. I still love the game though, and miss it badly; but I've still got my memories and souvenirs.

Em

[Frank Manning]

QB!! You are trotting out what I used to say to my Dad about golf. Then I tried playing it....not easy. Boris is so right, the satisfaction of hitting a wedge high and landing close to the pin, or of six iron similarly. Its up there with a perfect cover drive, or a leg glance off the front foot for satisfaction.

Tom watson was and is a consistently great player, and a gentleman.

[Boris+]

I was lucky as a female golfer to be considered a long hitter, so I knew I could do the distance no problem. On the other hand, my putting was rubbish with a capital R, so whilst I used to enjoy those wonderful long tee or fairway shots, the real 'work' for me was done with my chipping.

Now chipping is about all I can manage - I do love a bit of chipping time in the nets when we are on board(except that the equipment is all male and rubbish), but that's about it for me. However, I used to spend absolutely hours and hours getting my chipping just right, and the number of nasty long putts it saved me were beyond calculation.

Em

[Dark Knight]

Tom watson was and is a consistently great player, and a gentleman.

true but that does not automatically make him a good Ryder cup captain

[david63]

I was lucky as a female golfer to be considered a long hitter, so I knew I could do the distance no problem. On the other hand, my putting was rubbish with a capital R, so whilst I used to enjoy those wonderful long tee or fairway shots, the real 'work' for me was done with my chipping.

Now chipping is about all I can manage - I do love a bit of chipping time in the nets when we are on board(except that the equipment is all male and rubbish), but that's about it for me. However, I used to spend absolutely hours and hours getting my chipping just right, and the number of nasty long putts it saved me were beyond calculation.

Em

As you are/were a "long hitter" how many holes in one did you manage?

[Quizzical Bob]

Tom watson was and is a consistently great player, and a gentleman.

true but that does not automatically make him a good Ryder cup captain

Not really the point. You should never criticise your captain in public.

[Boris+]

David - enough! My Ping 7 iron is treasured beyond.

Yes indeed - this public criticism isn't on really.

Em

[Frank Manning]

Our Rotary Club (Bournemouth North) has an interest in a young lady professional who has just turned pro and won a tournament in Switzerland. She doesn't come from a priviledged background, but has worked hard at her game. I am trying to get Sue playing again, and we have just bought her some new clubs, but the days seem to fill up with jobs to do. Perhaps next week.

[Dark Knight]

QBob
if you had read my earlier posts, you would see that I am in agreement with the sentiment of not criticising the captain in public.
perhaps you should have read that first?
my point to Frank, is that a good player does not make a good captain

[Quizzical Bob]

QBob
if you had read my earlier posts, you would see that I am in agreement with the sentiment of not criticising the captain in public.
perhaps you should have read that first?
my point to Frank, is that a good player does not make a good captain

No problems Dk, of course I read all your posts

My comments were really relating to the two posts that were quoted, in my view no matter how good or poor a captain is he/she should be supported in public, and I know you would agree with that.

[Dark Knight]

totally agree QBob

the comments should have been made in private between the 2 of them