Phil Mickelson’s Ryder Cup roller-coaster dipped to another low on Saturday as the world number two had two points slip through his fingers.
In the morning foursomes, Mickelson and partner Anthony Kim stormed to a four-up lead then watched it evaporate into a two and one loss to Swede Henrik Stenson and debutant Oliver Wilson.
The pain was compounded later in the afternoon fourballs, when he missed a five-foot birdie putt on the 17th that would have put his team in position to earn a full point.
”When we were four-up [in the morning] we had some momentum, we were going, and unfortunately a couple bad shots by us, and we ended up squandering a lead,” said Mickelson.
”It looked like we were going to bring that thing down to the end until that long putt on 17 by Oliver Wilson that sealed it.”
In the afternoon, Mickelson missed the putt on 17 then botched his tee shot at 18, forcing Hunter Mahan to produce a clutch birdie that allowed the Americans to escape with a half.
”It was a very emotional and up-and-down day,” admitted Mickelson. ”Hunter and I played some good golf, and we were able to withstand Robert Karlsson birdying six of the last nine holes.
”He just played some great golf and we were fortunate that we were able to make enough birdies to halve the match.”
Mickelson’s subdued mood was in sharp contrast to Friday when the fired up three-time major winner high-fived his way around Valhalla taking 1-½ points with an equally effervescent Kim.
”We fought hard all day, and Hunter and I hung in there, and obviously we wanted to win, we had opportunities for that.
”But as well as Karlsson played, as many birdies as he made, a half point isn’t bad.
”We walked out of the afternoon, I believe, tied two-two, so they threw some good golf at us today, we still have a lead, we’re looking forward to tomorrow’s singles.” – Reuters