RYDER CUP BUILD-UP: WHAT FLEET ST WRITERS ARE PENNING

MICKELSON LIGHTS RYDER CUP FUSE


FROM THE GOLF DIGEST WEBSITE
By Geoff Shackelford

Almost as if to show they are above such nonsense, Fleet Street golf writers at Gleneagles enjoyed but did not overplay Phil Mickelson's playful jab at the not-so-funny legal mess involving Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. Of course, this is online. What happens in the print edition headlines may be entirely different.

Mike Dickston at the Daily Mail (where the headline was appropriately large), said Mickelson's remark "signalled the end of bland pleasantries in the build-up."

Neil McLeman in the Daily Mirror note that "the answer was no slip of the tongue. The articulate left-hander knew exactly what he was doing."

And James Corrigan analysed things much more in-depth, noting that Mickelson had "lit the fuse of the 40th Ryder Cup."

Fleet Street seemed much more intrigued by Sir Alex Ferguson's speech to the team, with McLeman playing up the apparently (somewhat) good natured jabs that took place between players and caddies passionate about rival football teams of Manchester United. 

Lee Westwood's caddie reportedly told Sir Alex that he didn't pay Leeds enough for Eric Cantona. Which means not a thing to this American.

And oddly The Independent stayed clear of Mickelson's remark and instead James Cusick focused on The PGA Century course at Gleneagles. Zzzzz….

Phil Mickelson just delivered a major burn to the European Ryder Cup team

FROM GOLFDIGEST.COM
By Ryan Herrington

GLENEAGLES -- The Americans and the Europeans had been playing nicely thus far during the interminable run-up to the start of the 40th Ryder Cup, offering little in the way of bulletin-board material since both sides arrived at Gleneagles. And then Phil Mickelson paid a visit to the Media Centre on Wednesday.

The most experienced player on Tom Watson's U.S. team was asked whether part of the Americans' struggles in the matches of late was due to players not being as close as their rivals. Instead of biting his tongue, Mickelson took a sarcastic bite out of the European team.
"Well, not only are we able to play together, we also don't litigate against each other," Mickelson said, "and that's a real plus, I feel, heading into this week."
Lefty was referencing the legal issues playing out between Rory McIlroy and his former management company, Horizon Sports, in which McIlroy alleges that McDowell received more favourable contract terms from Horizon.
Mickelson's quip drew laughter and a few wry smiles from the press in attendance. 
Moderator Michael Gibbons even offered a playful "ouch" in response.
"I might get roasted but I couldn't resist," Mickelson told GolfDigest.com. "I can handle it. We all need to laugh at ourselves. I think it's funny."
And suddenly, it's starting to feel like a Ryder Cup.
Photo: Getty Images