CHASKA, Minn. -- Phil Mickelson was facing the prospect of a withering public beatdown, and man did he know it. This is why he could not sleep. This is why his heartbeat was pounding in his ears as he entered the arena for the 11th Ryder Cup of his career.
Mickelson had brought it on himself, of course. He'd undressed a legend, Tom Watson, two years ago at Gleneagles, and he'd spent part of this week reintroducing Hal Sutton to his most stubborn Ryder Cup haunt, a foolish 12-year-old decision to pair Mickelson with a rival who couldn't stand him, Tiger Woods.