Mickelson backs Captain Love on Day 2 benching

• By Rex Hoggard
• Sep 30, 2012 10:05 PM ET

MEDINAH, Ill. – Just past the turn during Phil Mickelson’s Saturday foursome match with Keegan Bradley, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III ducked under the gallery ropes and made his way toward Lefty, but the American veteran quickly cut him off.

Before the match – which Mickelson and Bradley won handily over Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, 7 and 6, on their way to a perfect 3-0-0 team mark – Mickelson had told the excitable rookie that this team match would be their last.

“We said on the first tee we were going to put everything we have into this one match because we are not playing the afternoon,” Mickelson said. “I told Davis, ‘You’re seeing our best, you cannot put us in the afternoon because we emotionally and mentally are not prepared for it.”

Love, who was under pressure to send the dynamic duo back out in the afternoon fourball session, honored Mickelson’s request and the U.S. side split the session (2-2), a momentum boost the Europeans rode into Sunday’s singles action.

The criticism was already being leveled at Love in the wake of the U.S. side’s stunning 14 ½ to 13 ½ defeat late Sunday when Mickelson quickly stepped in to defend his captain.

“You cannot put that on him,” Mickelson said. “It was me.”

Relive Day 2 Ryder Cup matches Monday at 8 p.m. ET and the singles matches Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.