Final Predictions for Phil Mickelson at 2014 Ryder Cup
The Americans are facing a formidable European squad at the 2014 Ryder Cup. Team USA will need Phil Mickelson to be at his best when play begins Friday.
Led by World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson, the European team is top-heavy, featuring three of the top five players in the world. Mickelson was once among that group, but, at 44 years old, he's looking past his prime.
He did win The Open Championship in 2013, but he was ineffective in 2014. He's had just one top-five finish all season. Gary Van Sickle of Golf.com doesn't believe in Mickelson.
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"Maybe he'll turn it on Ryder Cup week and be amazing, maybe he won't," Van Sickle wrote. "If I knew Phil was definitely going to rise to this occasion, he’d be a no-brainer pick but he’s 44, his arthritis has to factor in this somehow and if he plays, nobody is going to concede him any short putts. I'm moving on to the next era."
A seemingly tired Mickelson withdrew from the BMW Championship after shooting 70 and 76 in the first two rounds.
He released a statement explaining his decision to forego the final two rounds: "My primary goal is to rest and prepare for the Ryder Cup. Without a chance to contend at the Tour Championship, the most important thing for me now is to prepare for the Ryder Cup."
If fatigue or pain is a factor for Mickelson, it'll likely show over the weekend. The fourball and foursomes should give him an opportunity to shine Friday, but that's easier said than done when going head-to-head against elite competition. Because of Mickelson's inconsistency and durability questions, the final two days of play could be a mixed bag.
With seemingly very little expected of Mickelson at this year's event, it's possible he rises to the occasion. After all, he is still a major competitor.
Mickelson's history in previous Ryder Cup appearances isn't very impressive, per RyderCup.com:
| Years Played: 1995-97-99-2002-04-06-08-10 |
| Total Matches: 34 |
| Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 11-17-6 |
| Singles (W-L-H): 4-4-0 |
| Foursomes (W-L-H): 2-5-4 |
| Fourballs (W-L-H): 5-8-2 |
| Total Points Won: 14 |
| Total Points Won Point Percentage: .41 |
When you take a good look at Lefty's production in his 34 Ryder Cup matches and combine that with his recent play and his age, there's little reason to be optimistic about his performance this weekend.
Call it harsh, but it would be a surprise to see Mickelson capture more than a point overall. The official prediction is 0.5 points.
For the sake of American fans, hopefully Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth and Co. can pick up the slack.
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