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Mickelson (middle) during the closing presentations. PA Wire/Press Association Images
Fall-out

Faldo accuses Mickelson of 'throwing the captain under the bus'

The former European captain is critical of Mickelson’s remarks about the US team’s shortcomings.

NICK FALDO HAS 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 that year, said Mickelson was wrong in being so openly critical of eight-times major winner Watson, at the age of 65the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history, immediately after this latest loss.

“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.

Watson, responding to the ongoing fall-out, said Monday: “The issue between Phil and myself is basically a difference of opinion. So that’s the controversy.

“The European team is very strong. When you (the Europeans) have four of the top five players in the world, you (the US) better be firing on all cylinders and we weren’t.”

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.

 © – AFP 2014 

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