• Ryder Cup

Mickelson rushes to Love's defence

ESPN staff
October 1, 2012

Phil Mickelson has defended United States captain Davis Love III's decision to rest him from Saturday's afternoon fourballs - revealing he was the one who demanded to be left out.

Mickelson, a five-time major champion, struck up a productive partnership with Ryder Cup rookie Keegan Bradley over the opening two days of the event at Medinah Country Club - winning all three of their matches together in convincing fashion.

But they were both left out of the final session on Saturday by Love - a decision that was subsequently criticised as Europe rallied in the Sunday singles to secure a remarkable overall victory.

Mickelson defended Love from questioning about his decision in the aftermath, saying he felt he and Bradley had needed a rest.

The pair both went on to lose their singles matches - Mickelson to Justin Rose, Bradley to Rory McIlroy.

"As far as playing Keegan and I, you need to hear something," Mickelson told the assembled media. "Keegan and I knew going in that we were not playing in the afternoon, and we said on the first tee, we are going to put everything we have into this one match.

"And when we got to 10, I went to Davis and I said, 'Listen, you're seeing our best; you cannot put us in the afternoon, because we emotionally and mentally are not prepared for it. And I know you're going to get pressure, because we're playing so good. But we have other guys that are dying to get out there … so you need to stay to our plan'.

"So you cannot put that on him; if anything, it was me, because I went to him at 10 and said that to him."

Love verified Mickelson's account of their discussions, hinting that he was ready to make a change and give the pair a fourth appearance as their good form continued.

"Phil came running over and started yelling at me, 'We are putting the most effort into this, we are giving you our all and we are going to win this match and do not play me in the afternoon'," Love recalled. "And I thought that was the funniest thing I had ever heard.

"He was really adamant that he did not think that they should play in the afternoon; that some of the other guys would have a lot more energy and would play well."

He added: "Would I have liked to have had everybody on our team play four matches the first two days? Yeah, because they were all playing really, really well."

Without Mickelson and Bradley in the line-up, the USA went on to draw the afternoon fourballs 2-2 - with Europe winning the final two matches to give themselves a glimmer of hope heading into the final day.

Europe's captain, Jose Maria Olazabal, credited those crucial moments with changing the course of the competition. "That session will be my abiding memory," the Spaniard told Sky Sports. "Those final two matches helped turn the tide for us."

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