Phil Mickelson began and finished Saturday on the sidelines, watching the Ryder Cup. He did not play after struggling with Keegan Bradley in four-ball and in foursome play on Friday. 

"I want our team to win, and whatever we have to do is all I care about," Mickelson told ESPN.

He will play only three matches. The first two on Friday and the singles on Sunday morning. That is the fewest he has ever played in the Ryder Cup since way back in 1995. 

"[Mickelson and Bradley] didn't perform all that well yesterday afternoon," captain Tom Watson said. "They really wanted to go today. These are the best pairings for alternate shot."

The most important thing for Mickelson and Bradley is that they focus on winning tomorrow. With the USA down 10-6, they will need top notch performances from both of them.

Mickelson has five wins in Major Championships. He has won The Masters Tournament three times (2004, 2006, 2010), he placed first at The Open Championship in 2003, he won the PGA Championship in 2005, and he placed second six times at the U.S. Open (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013). He was added to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2012. 

The 44-year-old veteran with 51 professional wins will be a vital asset to Team USA if he can produce like he has in recent years.

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About the author
Evan Petzold
Evan Petzold is a Detroit-based journalist with expertise in covering the Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings. A member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) and Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association (DBSA), he brings a unique skill set in reporting and broadcasting to the table.