The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Mickelson’s final mission: Win Ryder Cup in Europe
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Phil Mickelson hasn’t had his fill, not when it comes to the Cup. Especially the next one. Mickelson saved some of his best golf in one of his worst years for when it really counted. Steve Stricker wanted to see some life from Lefty before deciding to use a captain’s pick on him for the Presidents Cup, and Mickelson delivered with four rounds in the 60s at the TPC Boston to tie for sixth.
The pick extended his record streak to 23 consecutive teams, and Mickelson delivered another strong performance on the course and in the team room. He went 3-0-1 at Liberty National, one of four Americans to go unbeaten.
But it was a passing comment in Chicago, the week after he was chosen for the Presidents Cup, that shed some insight into his immediate future. He is starting a new season this week at the Safeway Open, which was expected because his management company runs the tournament.
“Looks like I’m probably going to go to China, too,” Mickelson said. China? Mickelson is a two-time winner at Sheshan International, but he has played the HSBC Champions only once in the last four years. Why now? One reason — perhaps the only reason — is because the World Golf Championship in Shanghai is the only tournament in the fall that offers Ryder Cup points.
This is one team Mickelson doesn’t want to miss.
He turns 48 next year and is still trying to manage psoriatic arthritis, which affected his energy and focus this year. Mickelson realizes his time is running out as a player in the Ryder Cup. He has played on three winning teams, all in America.
Next year’s matches are in France. This might be Mickelson’s last chance to win a Ryder Cup in Europe.
“That’s the one thing I haven’t done,” he said in Chicago.
And the opportunity has never looked better.
The Americans suddenly look a lot like Europeans when only a gold trophy, not cash, is on the line. They have developed a formula of familiarity, and they have relationships that go beyond the team room. Not even Europe had that. Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger grew up together in junior golf and graduated high school the same year. Thomas lives down the street from Rickie Fowler.
“You look at the camaraderie of the young players and how they support each other, even outside of these team events,” Mickelson said. “They have a support system where they love competing against each other, love beating each other, but are genuinely happy for each other’s success. And that leads to a very positive, uplifting energy in the team room.
“And I think that these young guys … really lay a solid foundation for the U.S. teams.”
The performance in the Presidents Cup — a 19-11 victory, a beating so thorough the Americans were one match away from ending it on Saturday — made it tempting to look ahead one year to the Ryder Cup with the belief it will turn out the same way.
If the Europeans were watching, should they be nervous?
“It’s more confidence for us than anything they would be worried about,” Spieth said.
That alone might be enough to worry.