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'
As the USA were in disarray, a @placeholder party at Gleneagles was getting under way.