Jersey City, United States: The United States’ 19-11 romp over the International team in the 2017 Ryder Cup only whetted Phil Mickelson’s appetite for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
The 47-year-old American made his 100th match in team competition for the United States a win on Sunday with a 2 & 1 victory over Canadian Adam Hadwin.
Mickelson posted his 26th Presidents Cup match win — extending his record after tying and then surpassing the 24-win mark of Tiger Woods earlier in the week.
“This has been a fun, special week,” Mickelson said. “I’ve never been a part of a team all these years that’s this talented and gone out and lit the course up like this and had such a big lead going into Sunday singles.”
The United States, up by 11 points on Saturday night, needed just one point from Sunday’s singles to clinch the Cup.
“This was a stress-free day for us, and that’s just something we’ve never had,” said Mickelson, the only man to play in all 12 Presidents Cups and now a veteran of 23 straight US match play teams including Presidents and Ryder Cup appearances.
Mickelson would dearly love to make it 24 straight teams when the United States take on Europe in the Ryder Cup in France next year.
“Next year going to Paris and being part of The Ryder Cup Team — it’s been 25 years since we won a Ryder Cup over there. That would be a real big goal of mine,” he said.
Mickelson hasn’t won a tournament since his 2013 British Open triumph at Muirfield and only made the Presidents Cup team as one of US captain Steve Stricker’s wild card picks.
He’s the same age as US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk, but even on a team packed with 20-something talent — including British Open champion Jordan Spieth, US Open Champion Brooks Koepka and PGA Champion Justin Thomas — the player they playfully dubbed “Grandpa” showed just how useful he can be.
Mickelson finished with three wins and one halved match for the week, partnering with Presidents Cup newcomer Kevin Kisner to win one foursomes and one four-ball and halve one foursomes match before his singles win over Hadwin.
“I’ve got a lot to work hard on, look forward to and a lot of goals to achieve to make that team,” Mickelson said of America’s date next year with Europe at Le Golf National. “But I think that would be really a career moment for me if we could go over there and keep The Ryder Cup.”
Stricker on Sunday called it “a thrill” to receive the trophy from American President Donald Trump.
“I thought it was a great thrill,” Stricker said. “I thought it was a great opportunity for us to be with him.”
Trump spent Sunday morning at his golf resort in Bedminster before making the hop to Liberty National in nearby Jersey City.
His trip to New Jersey came amid a backlash against his Twitter criticism of San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, following her pleas for more help in the relief efforts in storm-battered Puerto Rico.
In presenting the trophy, Trump said he dedicated it those suffering the effects of hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.
“I want to just remember them and we are going to dedicate this trophy to all of those people that went through so much,” he said.
Trump has stirred up controversy in the sports world with his bitter criticism of professional athletes, especially in the NFL, who decline to stand during the national anthem as a gesture of social protest.
Earlier this week, Stricker said he and his players discussed the issue and opted against any kind of demonstration when the tournament opened on Thursday.
And he said receiving the trophy from the sitting president was an honour, regardless of one’s political views.
“This tournament is about respecting the office, respecting the president of the United States,” Stricker said.
— AFP
