Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Jamie Donaldson played starring, stirring roles as Europe’s golfers romped to an eighth Ryder Cup victory in the last 10 contests. The USA, by contrast, were publicly melting down as recriminations began to fly over the reasons for their latest dismal failure. Europe’s overnight lead of 10-6 was extended to a final tally of 16½-11½, with McIlroy thrashing Rickie Fowler to put Europe’s first point of the day on the board and McDowell coming from three down against Jordan Spieth for the second. Tom Watson has seen his leadership of the US team at the Ryder Cup criticised by one of his players
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Phil Mickelson felt Tom Watson should have replicated the tactics of 2008
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Mickelson is a veteran of 10 Ryder Cups and was disappointed this time
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In 2008 Paul Azinger's imaginative captaincy guided US to victory
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At Gleneagles, Europe dominated the foursomes to crush the Americans
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Watson admitted the US were woeful in the foursome format
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Mickelson felt that Watson got major tactical choices wrong
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On the other hand, Paul McGinley got  big decisions right to claim the win
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Watson admits that the European's 'kicked our (US) butts'
Paul McGinley
While @placeholder was quickly at the heart of ecstatic European celebrations and receiving lavish praise from his players, Watson was being derided by senior members of his own team.
Europe
Europe
Europe
Europe
European
While McGinley was quickly at the heart of ecstatic @placeholder celebrations and receiving lavish praise from his players, Watson was being derided by senior members of his own team.
Tom Watson
Tom Watson
Watson
Watson
Watson
@placeholder was criticised by not reverting to the successful formula used in 2008's victory
Paul McGinley
'The other thing that @placeholder did really well was he had a great game plan for us; how we were going to go about doing this, how we were going to go about playing together, if so-and-so is playing well, if so-and-so is not playing well - we had a real game plan.
Phil Mickelson
Mickelson
Mickelson
@placeholder wanted the tactics to be more along the lines of Paul Azinger's pod system
Europe
Europe
Europe
Europe
European
As the USA were in disarray, a @placeholder party at Gleneagles was getting under way.