Lefty digs deep to provide ray of sunshine for Ryder Cup skipper Tom

Before Valhalla Golf Club was morphed into a yacht club and officials at the 96th US PGA Championship were forced to secure more life preservers for competitors, it was safe to say that Tom Watson had the roughest week of anyone.

Because he had made just one birdie in 36 holes and missed the cut? Nah. Come on, he’s securely cemented into the history books for his golf-playing prowess, and nothing he does now as a player will change any of that. You think a guy with five Claret Jugs gives a hoot about making a cut at the age of 64?

But Watson nearly two years ago took on the role of US Ryder Cup captain for 2014 and now that the big gamble is about to be called to the table, it’s difficult not to feel his pain. Especially after a week in which all news was bad news, or so it seemed.

There was the sad news that Dustin Johnson, ranked fifth in the Ryder Cup standings but first for overall talent, was leaving pro golf for six months to take care of “personal business”. There goes maybe your best player.

Then came Jason Dufner, eighth in the standings but a leader in the clubhouse with his laid-back attitude and great morale. Dogged by a neck injury for weeks, he withdrew 10 holes into his first round here and is likely to be knocked from one of the nine automatic picks. A captain’s pick is not envisioned.

Toss in that Matt Kuchar withdrew before the start of this Major with back pain. Then factor in the migraine regarding Tiger Woods, who looks unhealthy, unstable, and unsure of himself, yet should he lobby for a spot on the team, how difficult will that be? Adding further insult, Watson had hoped that the list of pursuers for automatic spots would assert themselves this week, but alas, that did not happen.

Keegan Bradley, 11th in the standings, missed the cut, as did numbers 14-19: Chris Kirk, Webb Simpson, Harris English, Kevin Na, Matt Every and Erik Compton.

Now Bradley might still get a captain’s pick, but the others? Not likely, and they have no one to blame but themselves.

All of which brings us to the one snippet of good news. That’s right. On a week when the sun could barely penetrate massive blocks of black rain clouds, captain Watson found a ray of sunlight — and from a source of inspiration, no less.

Phil Mickelson.

The hall of fame left-hander, a staple to each of the last nine Ryder Cups, provided a bit of hope when there appeared to be none for Watson. Having started the season first in the Ryder Cup standings, Mickelson had played poorly enough to sink to 10th, outside automatic territory. He would be a captain’s pick, no doubt, but Watson desperately wanted Mickelson to play himself onto the team.

Lefty knew the score, too.

“Hopefully, we’ll just play our way on this week and won’t have to worry about anything,” he said.

Each year since 1994 (excluding 2001, of course, when the terrorist bombings forced the Ryder Cup to be pushed back to 2002), when Mickelson qualified for the Presidents Cup, the he has represented the US in team competition.

One could argue that his passion for these team matches is as much a part of his persona as the three Masters, the one US PGA, and the stunning Claret Jug he took last summer.

In fact, it has been Mickelson, not Woods, who in recent years has insisted on putting his arms around the Bradleys and Hunter Mahans and Rickie Fowlers and Anthony Kims, asking them to rally around this team concept, this Ryder Cup business, this quest to restore American pride.

That Mickelson, his season devoid of a top-10 finish on the PGA Tour, let alone a victory, awoke from a lengthy slumber to shoot 62 in the fourth round of the Bridgestone Invitational last Sunday week was encouraging. That he stepped in and out of thunderstorms and withstood the latest Rory McIlroy blitz to hurl himself into contention to win this Major championship at the age of 44? Well, it clearly had Mickelson in great spirits, just three off the lead through 54.

“It’s so fun for me to be back in the thick of it,” Mickelson said. “It’s been a nice change.”

That’s a reference to his disappointing PGA Tour run since last August, that he’s still stung by having missed the cut at the Masters and his pedestrian efforts at the US Open and Open. He lives for these Major championships, of course, but he also lives for the Ryder Cup.

Which is why his work at the 96th US PGA Championship was so significant. A team looking at such long, long odds must have some bright news, right?