The curious case of captain Watson

ByBOB HARIG
September 27, 2014, 3:52 PM

— -- GLENEAGLES, Scotland -- A legendary figure in the game, Tom Watson might be more revered in Scotland than he is at home, the four Claret Jugs he won here all those years ago earning him enduring respect.

When he walked into the cauldron that is the first tee at Gleneagles to begin Ryder Cup festivities early Friday morning, the 2,000 spectators who began filling the grandstand when gates opened at 6 a.m. gave him a standing ovation.

It was a really nice scene, and you couldn't help but think how an upset victory as U.S. captain in the country where he helped forge a Hall of Fame legacy would be a fitting cap to his career.

But barring a significant Sunday comeback by his American players, Watson is looking to leave Scotland without the trophy he so dearly craves, and with plenty of questions about his captaincy.

Watson has long been known for his strong opinions and ironclad resolve, but his decision-making at Gleneagles has been shaky and unconvincing at a competition where the underdog Americans have no room for error. A 10-6 deficit is far from what was needed to have a legitimate shot at an upset with 12 singles matches remaining on Sunday.

Webb Simpson texted Watson a few weeks ago, begging to be a captain's pick, and the captain obliged. Phil Mickelson texted Watson on Saturday, begging to be in the afternoon lineup. Watson said no.

The examples are, unfortunately, numerous enough to leave even Watson second-guessing himself.

From sitting a strong team Friday ( Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed) to failing to play another strong team at all Saturday (Mickelson and Keegan Bradley) to captain's picks that were open to debate and did not produce, Watson's run has not gone as envisioned when the PGA of America made him a surprising choice to lead Team USA for a second time. The first time came 21 years ago, which happens to be the last U.S. victory in Europe.

"I had been waiting years for that call," said Watson, 65.

The decision was viewed as bold. Outside the box. A change from the decadeslong approach that basically saw players in their late 40s, who had won a major championship and who are still viewed as contemporaries, getting the tap on the shoulder.

But the U.S. has lost seven of the past nine Ryder Cups. And seven of the past 13 have been decided by 1 point or less. Nine of them by 2 points or less.

"I know the captain never hits a shot, but when you go to Scotland and you've got Tom Watson as your captain, I think it might make a half-point or point difference," PGA of America president Ted Bishop said a few months ago. "And as close as these things have been, it might be the difference in the match."

As it turns out, some of Watson's decisions might have turned it the other way.

Now to be clear, nitpicking captains is a cottage industry, and what they do typically receives either too much praise or too much blame. Watson didn't pop up any drives or miss any putts.

But his at-large selections are looking like a disaster, two of them not getting off the bench at all Saturday: Simpson and Bradley.

His strategy Friday seemed to be that he would stick with whatever his original plan was, leaving his best team of the morning -- Reed and Spieth -- on the bench in the afternoon.

It was somewhat understandable to play Mickelson and Bradley, who had just won for the fourth time in the Ryder Cup as a partnership.

But here's where Watson miscalculated. The duo went to the 18th hole to get it done, Mickelson has not been sharp this year, and neither for that matter has Bradley. Watson had a hot team he could have kept together, one that ran its record to 2-0-1 Saturday, in Reed and Spieth.

And the ultimate kicker -- he sat Mickelson and Bradley for both sessions Saturday, a first in Mickelson's 10-time Ryder Cup career. If the plan was to rest them, why not do it Friday in foursomes, then let them play once Saturday?

"I had to give them a shot there," said Watson, who then gave them no shot at all Saturday.

Should they have played at least one of the sessions? Of course. To sit the entire day is not going to help in singles. It never has for anyone in the Ryder Cup, and it's been a rarity for U.S. teams. It hurts confidence, not to mention the lack of golf. No player goes into the final round of a major championship after a day off.

Much has been said about Mickelson being 44, but so is Jim Furyk, who played twice Saturday. Yes, he won with Hunter Mahan in the morning, but the team went back out again and couldn't stick with Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia in afternoon foursomes.

And Furyk, who now is tied with Mickelson for most losses in U.S. Ryder Cup history (19), had never won two matches in any day of any of his previous eight appearances. Meanwhile, Bradley -- 28 and a guy who makes coffee nervous because of all of his enthusiasm -- didn't play at all, either.

Maybe Phil and Keegan get that done?

Perhaps the strong duo of Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker, who had tied all three of their matches, should have been given a break?

"It may have been a mistake that I put Jimmy and Rickie out four matches," Watson said. "I thought they could handle it. I think Jimmy got a little tired. But this is kind of a marathon when you have to put them out four matches in a row, 36 holes."

Then there are the captain's picks. They are a combined 2-4. The view here was and still is that Watson didn't have much to choose from on Sept. 2. Billy Horschel had yet to win two tournaments. Chris Kirk had a strong end to the year, but he wasn't so much better than Mahan or Simpson that his pick would be considered a universal choice. Bradley was also getting a pick, to pair him with Mickelson.

Watson was under no obligation to play them, but it's curious that three weeks ago he picked them, then now he sees no use for them?

Here's the crazy thing if you're looking at this from a U.S. perspective.

Rory McIlroy is 1-1-2. Ian Poulter is 0-1-1. Martin Kaymer is 0-1-2. Sergio Garcia is 1-1-1. Nobody would have bet those players would combine to win just two matches and Europe would still lead the U.S. by four points.

Another oddity: the U.S. performed more than adequately in four-ball, and has done fine in foursomes over the years. But some dubious pairings in a format that is quite difficult led to a complete whitewash in the afternoon sessions. The U.S. went 1-7 in foursomes, failing to win a single match.

In football coaching terms, that would be described as failing to make halftime adjustments.

Hence, Sunday's predicament.

So, now the Americans need 8½ points. So far, Simpson, Bubba Watson, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar have not won a point. For all their excellent play, Fowler and Walker have not won a match.

Tom Watson said all the right things Saturday night, naturally, and it is not in his nature to give up. He didn't win eight major championships by being meek and timid, although some of his decisions here have left him looking that way.

As the "Battle at Brookline" and "Miracle at Medinah" proved, 10-6 is not insurmountable.

But could you even give it a name?

Nothing comes to mind, other than "Gory at Gleneagles" -- which isn't exactly how Watson dreamed things would play out in Scotland, his adopted home.