Get set for a Tiger and Phil reunion
Jim Furyk is poised to reunite the most controversial partnership in Ryder Cup history by pairing Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
The two oldest members of the United States team went out together on the first day of official practice for the 2018 tournament starting in Paris tomorrow, in the company of Masters champion Patrick Reed and rookie Bryson Dechambeau as Furyk put into motion the famous ‘‘pod system’’ introduced by Paul Azinger 10 years ago.
It is understood Woods is chalked down with Dechambeau and Mickelson with Reed, but the Woods-mickelson combination is also in Furyk’s thoughts.
Mickelson encouraged the speculation – backed up by insiders – in his press conference. ‘‘We would both welcome it,’’ Mickelson said. ‘‘And I do have an idea of what captain Furyk is thinking, yeah.’’
Obviously, Furyk is also ready to split up the crack Reed-jordan Spieth pairing which would be another huge shock. They have won five out of seven points in the last two Ryder Cups and were considered a certainty to tee it up when the match begins.
But in terms of headlines, their uncoupling would be nothing compared to the reformation of the Woods-mickelson marriage
Hal Sutton, the 2004 captain, was pilloried for throwing the then world No 1 and No 2 together at Oakland Hills as they were beaten in both the fourballs and the foursomes on the first day. Just two years ago, Mickelson accused Sutton of ‘‘putting us in a position to fail and we failed monumentally’’. Sutton has never lived it down.
The 60-year-old from Louisiana was upset by those comments at Hazeltine and Mickelson was keen to avoid criticising Sutton when asked how the partnership might differ this time around.
‘‘When we go over like little details as to why we were or weren’t successful, when I talk about it openly and try to share insight, sometimes it comes across as though I’m trying to take a shot at somebody, and I don’t want to do that . . . any more,’’ he said.
Mickelson dared to suggest that the different golf balls he and Woods used were the reason for the duo’s failure in the record defeat.
However, they were barely on speaking terms back then, with Mickelson famously once telling Woods in a lift: ‘‘I will not be your b ..... ’’ Now their relationship is better than it has ever been, so much so they have even arranged a US$9 million (NZ$13.5M) winner takes all shootout in Las Vegas in November.
Europe captain Thomas Bjorn has asked for a tight, tough layout at Le Golf National, in direct contrast to the no-rough, birdie-fest which was presented to Europe in their defeat in 2016.
Furyk made a pointed remark about the set-up. ‘‘Europe had the opportunity to set the golf course up, so we’re trying to figure out what they have in store for us this week,’’ he said. ‘‘There are not a lot of wide parts out there.’’
Woods is plainly unconcerned and sent out a message to Justin Rose and Rory Mcilroy, whom he plainly considers as Europe’s two danger men.
Both have been on teams that have beaten a US team containing Woods, but he insists he is a different animal now. He clearly has them in his sights.
‘‘The younger guys were on their way in when I was on my way out,’’ Woods said. ‘‘You know, they had never really played against me when I was playing well. They have jokingly been saying that, ‘We want to go against you’. All right. Here you go.’’