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Tom Watson took the blame Saturday for his communication with his players in another American loss at the Ryder Cup, and the 65-year-old captain said he called Phil Mickelson earlier this week to clear the air.
"I regret that my words may have made the players feel that I didn't appreciate their commitment and dedication to winning the Ryder Cup," Watson said in a statement issued through the PGA of America. "My intentions throughout my term as captain were both to inspire and to be honest."
Mickelson indirectly called out Watson in an awkward press conference after Europe's 161/2-111/2 victory, the eighth out of the last 10 times it has won the cup. Mickelson said the Americans have strayed from a winning formula they had under Paul Azinger in 2008. Watson was sitting in the middle of his 12 players and said he had a different philosophy.
The statement was issued one day after an ESPN report citing four unidentified people who were in the U.S. team room on the night before the final round. Those people said Watson blamed the players for their performance in foursomes Europe went unbeaten in both sessions to build a 10-6 lead going into singles and scoffed at a gift from the players by saying it was meaningless if they didn't win.
The gift was a replica of the Ryder Cup the players had signed.
The report also said Watson denigrated some of the European players, and only praised the play of U.S. rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.
Watson was the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history. He was the last U.S. captain in 1993 to win the Ryder Cup away from home.
"The guys gave everything. They played their hearts out," Watson said in his statement. "I was proud to get to know each and every one of them."
Mickelson was playing his 10th Ryder Cup no American has played more times and said the U.S. team was not involved in any decision. He heaped praise on Azinger for his "pods" system that got the players involved when they won at Valhalla in 2008.
Watson dismissed that during the press conference, saying winning the Ryder Cup was not about pods and that it simply took 12 players to win.
The ESPN report said Mickelson was the last to speak during the team meeting, kept his back turned at Watson and tried to rally the players. Europe won key matches early and clinched the cup with four matches still on the course.
Watson said he had a "candid conversation" with Mickelson this week "and it ended with a better understanding of each other's perspectives."
"Phil's heart and intentions for our team's success have always been in the right place," Watson said.
European PGA • In St. Andrews, Scotland, Oliver Wilson of England closed in on a maiden European Tou title when he moved three strokes clear of the field in the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Wilson, playing with an invite as he lost full playing rights on tour in 2011, shot a 7-under-par 65 on the Old Course at St. Andrews to tally 15-under 201.
On his tail at 12 under were four players: Rory McIlroy (64), England's Tommy Fleetwood (62), and the French pair of Raphael Jacquelin (69) and Alexander Levy (68).
LPGA Tour • In Beijing, Stacy Lewis recovered from a slow start with four birdies on the back nine to take a share of the lead with Sweden's Caroline Hedwall heading into the final round of the LPGA Reignwood Classic. Hedwall and Lewis were at 13-under 206 at Pine Valley Golf Club.
Saturday's results
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
At St. Andrews and Carnoustie, Scotland
c-Carnoustie (Championship Course) • 7,412 yards, par-72
k-Kingsbarns Golf Link • 7,210 yards, par-72
s-St. Andrews (Old Course) • 7,305 yards, par-72
Purse • $4.8 million
Third-round leaders
Tommy Fleetwood, England 69c-73k-62s204
R. McIlroy, Northern Ireland 73c-67k-64s204
Alexander Levy, France 68c-68k-68s204
Raphael Jacquelin, France 65c-70k-69s204
Chris Wood, England 70s-69c-66k205
Ryan Palmer, United States 69c-68k-68s205
Richie Ramsay, Scotland 69c-68k-68s205
R.-Jan Derksen, Netherlands 73k-70s-63c206
George Coetzee, South Africa 71c-67k-68s206
L. Oosthuizen, South Africa 70c-74k-62s206
Chris Doak, Scotland 70c-67k-70s207
Stephen Gallacher, Scotland 68c-70k-69s207
Shane Lowry, Ireland 66k-70s-71c207
Padraig Harrington, Ireland 66c-70k-71s207
M. Hoey, Northern Ireland 72s-70c-65k207
Brooks Koepka, United States 70c-73k-64s207
Richard Sterne, South Africa 73c-66k-68s207
Alejandro Canizares, Spain 72c-71k-65s208
Marcel Siem, Germany 69s-71c-68k208
Robert Karlsson, Sweden 72c-68k-68s208
Paul Casey, England 69c-73k-66s208
Paul Lawrie, Scotland 69k-72s-68c209
Bernd Wiesberger, Austria 71c-71k-67s209
Ernie Els, South Africa 71c-74k-64s209
Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand 71c-71k-68s210
Marc Warren, Scotland 73s-70c-68k211
Paul McGinley, Ireland 72c-70k-69s211