Ryder Cup: Phil Mickelson not happy with Tom Watson?

Phil Mickelson’s comments after the Europeans took the 16.5-11.5 Ryder Cup victory for the third straight time showed some frustration and potentially some criticism of U.S. Captain Tom Watson.

"In Mickelson’s interview with NBC after the match he said, “We had a great formula in ’08. I don’t know why we strayed. I don’t know why we don’t go back. What Zinger did was great.”"

2008 was the last time the U.S. won the Ryder Cup that took place at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky in a decisive 16.5-11.5 victory.

Those comments from Phil Mickelson can only be interpreted one way: Tom Watson was the wrong man for this job.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) September 28, 2014

Mickelson’s comments come as frustration after being benched by U.S. captain Tom Watson, the Ryder’s Cup’s oldest captain ever at age 65, as well as some other coaching mistakes Watson made in the Ryder Cup.

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After Mickelson and Keegan Bradley won their Friday morning session fourball play against Rory McIlroy in 18 holes, Watson sent them right back out for the afternoon session where they suffered a 3 and 2 loss to Graeme McDowell and Victor Dubuisson after they were clearly tired from their morning match.

Watson decided to bench rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed after they were the second match to finish the morning session in a 5 and 4 victory, playing just 14 holes.

Going into Saturday, Watson said he was going to bench Mickelson and Bradley in the morning, but said they would play in the afternoon. But, then Watson benched Mickelson and Bradley. Here’s what Watson told ESPN’s Bob Harig Saturday.

"“I expected exactly what Phil said to me,” Watson said after the U.S. dropped 3 ½ of 4 points in the afternoon foursomes, or alternate shot, competition. “He said, ‘We can get it done, captain. We want the chance.’ I said, ‘Well, the way this golf course sets up, the four teams I put out there gives us the best chance.’“He lobbied again. He texted me, he said, ‘Give us a chance.’ I had to tell him no. I felt that we had the four best teams possible in the afternoon for alternate shot.”"

The U.S. ended up going 0-3-1 in the afternoon alternate shot session on Saturday.

Mickelson won his Sunday singles match 3 and 1, Bradley lost 4 and 3.

Watson clearly made some bad decisions in the 2014 Ryder Cup that may have costed the U.S. some key points. We’ll see how his coaching decisions affected his reputation.

Clearly, Mickelson is frustrated as his Ryder Cup days are winding down, but you can expect to see him in the next Ryder Cup in 2016 at Hazeltine National Golf Course in Chaska, Minnesota and you’ll definitely see Mickelson as a captain for the U.S. down the road.

More on FanSided.com

Ryder Cup full recap, Europe wins 16.5-11.5
Rory dominates Rickie
Ryder Cup: Saturday afternoon pairings and predictions
Halved match keeps Europe in the lead
Europe takes 10-6 lead into Sunday

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