TOM WATSON has tried to play down accusations that Phil Mickelson criticised his captaincy of the USA team at the Ryder Cup.

Mickelson was omitted from both Saturday sessions despite pleading with the the American skipper to include him.

The five-times Major winner responded yesterday by beating Scotland's Stephen Gallacher 3&1 at the PGA Centenary Course, the match finishing at the 17th when Mickelson was six under par for his round.

He then appeared to have a dig at five-time Open champion Watson by suggesting he should have followed the example of Paul Azinger, the USA's last winning captain from Valhalla six years ago.

"We had a great formula back in '08," said Mickelson, "I don't know why we strayed from that. I don't know why we don't go back. What Zinger did was great."

Azinger split his 12-man team into three "pods" - a team-building tactic used by the US Navy Seals. His side then romped to an emphatic five-point triumph.

But Watson decided to ignore that strategy, as his predecessors Corey Pavin and Davis Love III both did.

But when he was asked if Mickelson had been disloyal with his comments, Watson responded: "Not at all. He has a difference of opinion.

"But that is okay. My management philosophy is different from his."

The USA captain added: "I had a different philosophy to Paul Azinger. I decided not to go the way he did.

"I had most of the guys who played together play in practice rounds together.

"My two jobs were to make the captain's picks then put the team together. It is up to debate whether I did the best possible job.

"Listen, the Europeans kicked our butt. They played better than us this week.

"I may have made a mistake in playing some players when they were tired but, overall, I think my vice-captains and I made the correct decisions.

"It doesn't soothe the hurt. The hurt is still there."