Lefty happier playing for Love
Some captains put U.S. in position to fail, Mickelson says.
Phil Mickelson CHASKA, MINN. — criticized another past Ryder Cup captain Wednesday in explaining why he thinks this American team will be prepared to play its best.
Mickelson was the catalyst for change in 2014 when he publicly questioned Tom Watson’s heavy-handed role — with Watson sitting at the same table — after another American loss at Gleneagles. That led to the PGA of America creating a task force that allowed for more player involvement.
“When you look back on what the difference is, when players are put in a position to succeed, more often than not they tend to succeed,” Mickelson said. “And when they are put in positions to fail, most of the time they tend to fail.”
That opened the conversation of how much a captain can mean in the Ryder Cup without hitting a shot or making a putt.
“Let me give you an example, if I may,” Mickelson said, stopping just short of wagging his finger.
He went back to 2004 when the Americans suffered their worst loss in the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills. Nothing illustrated their failure more than when U.S. captain Hal Sutton sent out Mickelson and Tiger Woods twice. It was their first time playing together, and they lost both matches.
Mickelson was lampooned that week for practicing on an adjacent course as he tried to adjust to the golf ball used by Woods.
“We ended up not playing well. Was that the problem? I mean, maybe,” Mickelson said. “But we were told two days before that we were playing together, and that gave us no time to work together and prepare.”
Mickelson said having to learn how to hit a different golf ball forced him to abandon his own preparations.
“In the history of my career, I have never balltested two days prior to a major,” Mickelson said. “It doesn’t allow me to play my best.”
Mickelson said he wasn’t trying to knock Sutton — he said he liked how decisive Sutton was that week.
“But that’s an example of starting with the captain. That put us in a position to fail. And we failed monumentally, absolutely,” he said. “But to say, ‘Well, you just need to play better,’ that is so misinformed. Because you will play how you prepare.”
Mickelson is more optimistic than ever the Americans can end two decades of futility against Europe, which has won eight of the past 10 times. Mickelson is playing his record 11th straight Ryder Cup, qualifying for every one of those teams, yet he has been on the winning side only twice.
Two years ago, he was visibly angry after the loss at Gleneagles for the U.S. getting away from what worked under Paul Azinger in a rare 2008 victory, and what seems to work every year at the Presidents Cup against an international team that is not nearly as formidable as Europe.
Davis Love III was captain at Medinah in 2012 when the Americans had a 10-6 lead going into singles, only to win three of the 12 singles matches as Europe rallied to win. Mickelson and Woods were part of that task force that agreed to bring Love back.
“This is a year where we feel as though Captain Love has been putting us in a position to succeed,” Mickelson said. “He’s taken input from all parties. He’s making decisions that have allowed us to prepare our best and play our best, and I believe that we will play our best.” returned four interceptions for touchdowns. With nine games to play in the regular season, they already have tied the single-season school record in that category. The 1987 and 1996 teams also returned four picks for scores.
Ohio State’s defense has scored more points (28) than the offenses of its three opponents: Bowling Green, Tulsa and Oklahoma (23 points combined). Could the defense outscore its opponents over the course of an entire season?
”That’s the goal,” linebacker Chris Worley said Monday. “If you do that, we won’t lose a game, technically speaking. But our job is to outplay the other defense. If our defense outplays their defense, we should win the game.”
Four players have scored for Ohio State’s defense. Freshman Rodjay Burns returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the season opener against Bowling Green.
In the next game against Tulsa, the Buckeyes broke the game open with two interception returns for scores in the second quarter. Safety Malik Hooker returned one 26 yards for a touchdown, and less than three minutes later, cornerback Marshon Lattimore scored on a 40-yard return.
Every time Ohio State gets a turnover, the players stick to a script.
”The person who gets the turnover or recovers it hits the near sideline and goes as fast as he can,” Worley said, “and everyone else picks up a block. If it’s an interception, block the intended receiver first and go from there. The big thing for the defense and football in general is just awareness. You always play through the whistle. Once we see it, everyone reacts.”
No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Ohio State are the only teams in the country with four defensive touchdowns. The Crimson Tide (4-0) have played one more game. Marshall, Tulsa and Houston are the only teams with three defensive touchdowns.
The Buckeyes have forced 11 turnovers (nine interceptions and two fumbles) and turned the ball over only twice. Their plus-nine turnover margin leads the nation.
Coach Urban Meyer doesn’t see any luck involved in the defensive scores.
”I think we have obviously very good coaches and players,” he said Tuesday. “We don’t think there’s such a thing as coincidence or good fortune, or why practice that? The fact is the guys are good athletes. They take coaching very well. They’re well trained.”