Mickelson vs Watson: Was Phil Right to Be Critical of Watson at the Press Conference?

[mvmac]

If you missed the press conference or want to see the transcript and read what the media is saying, go HERE

I'm a fan of Phil's but I think he was wrong here. It was disrespectful to Watson and the rest of the team (super awkward) to voice his opinion so publicly, especially right at the end of competition From Phil's perspective I assume he felt like his voice (along with other players) wasn't being heard so he was venting some frustration while voicing his support for the pods system and Azinger as the next captain.

While I agree that the pods system might help the players (overall it just comes down to shooting lower scores), Phil should have picked a better time and place to express his opinions.

Quote:

Jason Sobel called this "a passive-aggressive coup on Watson's captaincy" and writes, "In the demure world of golf, this was the verbal equivalent to Reggie Jackson brawling withBilly Martin in a dugout or Latrell Sprewell going for the throat of P.J. Carlesimo."

Quote:

This is a pro-bono week for the players while everyone else makes a lot of money off their backs. A great leader at least pretends to hear what these players are thinking because (A) they are here on their own time and (B) common sense dictates it. If Watson failed as miserably as Mickelson implies, then he probably is in for criticism.

Quote:

LYNCH: It is clear there is a mutual antipathy between Mickelson and Watson, which wasn't helped by the fact that Watson made public Phil's texting plea to play on Saturday. I suspect that Watson's gaffe was a case of being tone deaf, Phil's was calculated. Autopsies should wait until the corpse is cold. The press conference was not the place to make his point.

Quote:

BAMBERGER: I thought Brandel's response was more interesting. Phil obviously doesn't like Watson and he had the ideal platform to let the world know. Watson's been doing the same thing to others for years, most notably Woods, Gary McCord, liberals. I've been worried that Brandel lost his bite ever since GC dressed him down after he took on Woods' moving ball at the BMW last year. He was consistent here, standing up for golf's gentlemanly tradition. I happen not to agree with Brandel -- I think Phil was doing to Watson what he's done to Finchem and Mike Davis and various others. Letting them know how he feels. He makes golf more interesting. How about Mahan when Phil was going on about pods? His eyes were like, What fresh hell is this? Watson sat Phil, and Phil wasn't going to sit there and take it.

[Hammer 4]

I voted NO...Phil could have voiced his opinion in private. Whether Phil likes or dislikes Tom matters not, to say that Tom was a lousy captain in public was uncalled for IMHO.

[cfritchie]

I would vote for both answers...

When I heard the press conference Phil was answering the question that was asked..was a dig at Watson..yeah a bit of one. I thought of it as more of "we" meaning all needed to approach things differently.

What I like about some athletes is when they do state their own opinion and are not robots...I suspect that if it got to the point it did in that press conference then it was 200x's worse behind the scenes.

Did Phil cross a line...I think he did...I'd rather that then just the same old boring crap answers...

[newtogolf]

I voted Yes because I didn't agree with how the "No" was presented.  I don't like the timing but I don't consider what he said as passive aggressive.  Phil was asked a question and responded to it, he could have said much worse and showed restraint.

[mvmac]

I would vote for both answers...

When I heard the press conference Phil was answering the question that was asked..was a dig at Watson..yeah a bit of one. I thought of it as more of "we" meaning all needed to approach things differently.

I voted Yes because I didn't agree with how the "No" was presented.  I don't like the timing but I don't consider what he said as passive aggressive.  Phil was asked a question and responded to it, he could have said much worse and showed restraint.

Phil was answering a question but he also got the ball rolling with what he said in an interview after his round.

[Keith White]

Phil's timing was wrong, and the comments don't hold credence regards team pods and Azingers approach anyway.  They were disrespectful to the last three captains and the evidence suggests Phil isn't right anyway - consider if you will......

While Phil and the old guard sat there bemoaning Captains, what were Rickie and the rookies thinking.  They did what their captain asked and went out and grabbed a bunch of points, no pods or Azinger needed, they played well and got the job done.  If you look at the foursomes that Watson fielded they were full of players on both days who on paper, in that format, should have collected far more than a half each afternoon, they didn't deliver to their strengths.

Has Phil forgotten that only two years ago the USA went to bed on Saturday with a 10-6 lead,. No pods or Azinger tactics there either. Love 3rd did a pretty good job of setting things up for Sunday and he can't take critism for what happened. So that makes a mockery of Phils comment as well because at Medinah, they got the first two days spot on and should have wrapped it up.

Clearly Phil has a gripe with Watson. Well, Watson didn't pick himself, the PGA picked him.  As a member of team USA you respect that decision and back their choice or elect not to play. He's had two years knowing Watson was the PGA choice and that's plenty of time to get used to it and go out and play well, not sit there afterwards and stab him in the back, without good reason.

Europe are stronger than they have ever been.  They have several players playing in both tours, so they are comfortable home or away, and they have lots of players on form.  It was never going to be easy for USA.

Stop moaning and looking for excuses Phil, you weren't good enough. Help PGA prepare for 2016, be a role model for the players whether your playing or in the background, and do all you can to make sure you get the trophy back next time. Azinger and pods ain't no magic wand, play better !!

[MS256]

I don't care about throwing anybody under a bus, voicing displeasure with the captain, or aggression if it's warranted.

I voted no because I don't think they lost because of Watson and I don't think that PODS would have helped them a bit. If I had been Watson listening to that my blood would have been boiling.

[Golfingdad]

While he may have had a point, he was wrong to say it like that.  I voted no.  Maybe a different coaching style could have helped - I don't know - but I also think there were a few other things that could have helped as well.  Courtesy of @chriskzoo is the "discussion" thread:

Quote:

That being said - the final was 16 1/2 to 11 1/2, meaning the US needs to flip 2 1/2 matches to be even. You can never count on anything in the Ryder Cup, but consider this:

• Fowler/Walker 2 up with 2 to play - they halve
• Reed misses a 2 footer to go 1up, they win 17 (would have ended the match) and lose 18 for a half
• Spieth 3up after 9 - blows up on the back 9
• Mahan 4up through 8 and only get a half point

If the guys simply hit better shots on the course during the ends of those 4 matches then the US wins.  Nothing at all happens different in the coaching realm and we're sitting here talking about all of the things Watson did right and the things McGinley did wrong.

[MSDOGS1976]

Although Watson didn't show it, I'm sure he didn't care for Phil's comments. In another poll I saw basically asking the same question, almost 90% voted that Phil should have kept his mouth shut. The poll had over 6k voters.

[vangator]

I think the pool question for yes sums it up nicely. Tom sucked. Tom was always known as one of the biggest aholes on tour. It showed. Sitting Reed and Speith. Playing Phil and Keegan 36 holes on Friday. Sitting all day on Saturday. Keegan had no spark at all. Speith needed more golf before throwing him against McDowell. Fowler has not finished a tournament all year with decision. On and on. Golf is such a mental game and you have to get these guys fired up. Committed as a team. I fins Phil to be one of the best interviews regardless of sport. I thought what he said was fine. Welcome if fact. He'll be chastised for it because it was Tom.

[mchepp]

Phil is pretty press savvy. This was a calculated attack. I voted yes because if you feel that you were done wrong you should be allowed to voice your displeasure. I understand biting your tongue in public for the good of the team but it made the press interview very interesting. He could have answered like Furyk, boring.... but he went after it.

In my opinion in working at various different places in the corporate world, sometimes it takes someone to say to the management how bad things are before any changes are made. The person may get fired but deep down everyone respects that they identified the problem and were willing to speak up. Hopefully this causes everyone involved to question how we can get better in these types of events. Because the Europeans are kicking our butts.

Also he has been on a bunch of losing teams. Too many and I think this was some pent up frustration with losing...again...and being benched.

[Keith White]

While he may have had a point, he was wrong to say it like that.  I voted no.  Maybe a different coaching style could have helped - I don't know - but I also think there were a few other things that could have helped as well.  Courtesy of @chriskzoo is the "discussion" thread:

If the guys simply hit better shots on the course during the ends of those 4 matches then the US wins.  Nothing at all happens different in the coaching realm and we're sitting here talking about all of the things Watson did right and the things McGinley did wrong.

Correct, and Phil really didn't think it through, another reason why it was not the time or the place. Coaching styles can be explored but if styles since 2008 were the problem it would have come to light much sooner than this. The stats that went with this quote prove where USA lost it, and it wasn't tactics, it was player mistakes.

McGinley made a terrible decision putting the out of form Poulter with Rookie Steven Gallacher, on the first morning, whereas Watson was smart to blood the rookies at the same time and they ripped Poults and Stevie to shreds.  But Europe won, so nobody's talking about it.

[sinned123]

you could hear the Europeans going crazy with joy during the American press conference outside of where ever they were...emotions were very raw...I did not like Tom Watson as a coach, I didn't like the American team, they were over matched on Fri and Sat,. That being said, if everyone watching on TV could hear the celebration, I'm sure the team could hear it as well...if the press conference was a day later...??

[Ernest Jones]

I voted no. There is a time and a place for FIGJAM's comments and that wasn't the time nor place IMO.

[boogielicious]

It would have been better if he said it to the team first.

[iacas]

I voted yes.

The U.S. team has sucked and Phil is taking a leadership role. Sometimes that means ruffling feathers. If he said it at any other time it would not have had the impact it had this time. He's older, will be a Ryder Cup captain soon enough, and then people can remind him of what he said should his team fail to win. He knows this, too.

Watson was a terrible captain. Yes, had the guys played better Sunday they'd have won… but they basically split the singles matches and lost by a LOT. Why? Because they were down 10-6 going into it. Why was Webb first off the tee playing terribly? Why were Reed/Spieth sat? Etc.

The list of gaffes is huge.

It goes beyond the "pod" system Azinger used, though making players a little bit more accountable for and to each other - having a game plan so players know WHY they're sitting or that they might sit if they don't produce also helps.

[Keith White]

I think the pool question for yes sums it up nicely. Tom sucked. Tom was always known as one of the biggest aholes on tour. It showed. Sitting Reed and Speith. Playing Phil and Keegan 36 holes on Friday. Sitting all day on Saturday. Keegan had no spark at all. Speith needed more golf before throwing him against McDowell. Fowler has not finished a tournament all year with decision. On and on. Golf is such a mental game and you have to get these guys fired up. Committed as a team. I fins Phil to be one of the best interviews regardless of sport. I thought what he said was fine. Welcome if fact. He'll be chastised for it because it was Tom.

That's a lot of excuses for a lot of players.  There were some great USA foursomes in the afternoons, half a point each day??

Colin Montgomerie was considered something of an Ahole by many, and still is, his team won.

[isukgolf]

I voted Yes ... look what everyone is discussing today ... Just glad it was Phil, and not a comment that Tiger made (glad he did not go); otherwise it would have created a whole different firestorm. I think Phil was the best guy to voice his opinion ... and I agree Phil is media smart, he knew what he was doing.