Let the speculation for the next U.S. Ryder Cup captain commence. Just don’t count on it being World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson.
The United States made a valiant effort on Sunday to pull off an improbable comeback but it fell short as Europe won the 45th Ryder Cup 15-13 at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y. The left-hander, who represented the U.S. 12-man side on 12 teams and compiled a lifetime record of 18-22-7, was expected to be named captain for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage but that all changed when he jumped to LIV Golf and became persona non grata to much of the world of golf. After losing for the ninth time in the last 12 playings of the Ryder Cup, a knee-jerk reaction was to say time let bygones be bygones and welcome Mickelson back into the fold. Who better to lead the Americans into Ireland to try to win on foreign soil for the first time since 1993?
Well, not Mickelson. Fellow LIV Golf member Lee Westwood, who also has been banished from Europe’s backroom, asked Mickelson on the social media platform X if he fancied being captain at Adare Manor, host site of the next Cup. In response, Mickelson wrote, “No rumors. My Ryder Cup involvement is over. I’m happy being a spectator and rooting for Team USA.”
Mickelson served as a vice captain in 2021 at Whistling Straits, the last time the U.S. won the Ryder Cup. But cross Mickelson off the list of potential candidates to replace Keegan Bradley at the helm of the U.S. squad.
Tiger Woods anyone?
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