CHASKA, Minn. — There was not a player on either Ryder Cup team who had more pressure on him in this week’s matches than Phil Mickelson.
It was Mickelson who was so vocal and out front about the importance of instituting change in the U.S. Ryder Cup system. He took criticism — and understandably so — for throwing 2014 captain Tom Watson under the bus.
When it counted most, with the U.S. side trying to end the European dominance, Mickelson delivered — particularly in Sunday’s singles match against Sergio Garcia. Rarely will you witness a match with a better quality of golf than the one Mickelson and Garcia played Sunday at Hazeltine, which ended in a halve.
Mickelson made 10 birdies, Garcia made nine. Both birdied 18 in a taut ending to the match, with Mickelson making birdie first and leaping into the air like he did when he won the 2004 Masters, his first career major championship.
Asked about his vertical leap, Mickelson joked, “A good solid four to six inches, I would guess.’’
“This was a hard-fought battle and a lot of emotion. I thought we both played really well, and it probably was fitting in the end to have it a tie. Sergio played some great golf, not just [Sunday], but all week. We really had fun.”
Garcia called the match “amazing.”
“To shoot 9-under par and end up tying the match, it’s obviously heartbreaking,’’ he said. “But I gave everything I had. Phil made [putts] from everywhere.”
Garcia, speaking about the 8-foot birdie putt he had to make on 18 to assure the halved match after Mickelson had made his from 20 feet, said: “I was feeling quite comfortable, maybe because I love these moments. This is what I live for.
“Obviously, I’ve been reminded probably 300 times this week [by fans] that I haven’t won a major, but I love these moments. I love being at Ryder Cups. I love playing for my teammates. I love playing for Europe.
“Even if I never get a major, it doesn’t matter because I have these moments. Nobody can take them way from me.”
Garcia said he didn’t have answers for Mickelson’s incredible putting.
“It was very impressive,” he said. “Obviously, we both played extremely well. I definitely drove the ball better than he did, but he definitely rolled the ball better than me. I don’t know how many feet in putts he made, but …
“I would have loved to get the win. I felt like I played well enough for it, but Phil kept doing what he knows how to do.”
Garcia said he knew the Europeans desperately needed his point, saying, “I was out there trying to get a point, not get a half-point. That point would have been huge. I tried to deliver. Unfortunately, I was a little bit short.’’