Ryder Cup fan up to challenge, drains putt that European pros missed

Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, highlights on BBC Two plus live text commentary on the BBC Sport website. “That’s all I’m focused on this week is just trying to play the best possible golf that I can and win the most points, and ultimately that will help the team do what we want to achieve”.

A player such as Rafa Cabrero-Bello or JB Holmes could win next week, but if they produce the moment of the weekend at the Ryder Cup in the coming days, that’s what they will be remembered for by the public.

“Phil created a lot of drama that week, if we remember, because he switched his clubs and his ball prior to that week”, Sutton said.

Mickelson later went on the Golf Channel to say he communicated with Sutton and that he felt very bad.

“I am so, so sorry”, said Mickelson, who played a pivotal role in the 11-man task force created by the PGA of America after the 2014 Ryder Cup to identify how the USA could compete more successfully.

Willett apologized to American captain Love III, saying he did not think it was a distraction for 12 guys looking at the big picture all week, a fourth straight Ryder Cup, and third out of four on US soil.

“I think that was what Darren was looking for, somebody in form”, said the 24-year-old from Geel who is one of six rookies on Clarke’s team.

Mickelson is more optimistic than ever that the Americans can end two decades of futility against Europe, which has won eight of the last 10 times.

But what Team Europe lose in experience and star quality, they more than make up for in youthful exuberance.

Phil Mickelson has apologised to Hal Sutton for criticising the way he captained the 2004 US Ryder Cup team.

Fourball will follow Friday afternoon, with pairings for that competition to be announced late Friday morning.

Similar to Europe, the USA recently added a Ryder Cup Committee made up of PGA of America representatives as well as players.

Lee Westwood is the elder statesman on the European team.

Asked about the importance of the captain pick Wednesday night, US veteran golfer Phil Mickelson was honest.

Looks like the world’s best party. Neither partnership has lost a Ryder Cup match. It’s a little bit of cat-and-mouse whenever you put pairings out together in practice rounds.

So – and again, I have to emphasize that this is on paper – my analysis gives Europe a 2½-1½ advantage in the first session.

“Some people rise to it and some don’t respond quite so well so for me, someone who has been in the captain’s seat, that would be somewhat of a concern”.

“If I am driving it well, I am going to play well and my team is going to do well”. Mickelson has criticized nearly every captain he has ever had, which led to the infamous “task force” to examine Team USA.

“I feel terrible. It was never meant to be like that“, Mickelson said, per ESPN.

“I think Phil better get his mind on what he needs to have it on this week instead of on something that happened 10 years ago, ” he said. “It was a great birthday for me”.