John O'Sullivan on Phil Mickelson who, given his superb record, loves this form of golf.

At last someone who wasn't prepared to be PC, saw the situation from both sides, whose rhetoric didn't seek refuge in the banal. Phil Mickelson wasn't trying to be controversial, not a bit, but the world number two wasn't about to sugar-coat his remarks for fear of offending sensibilities.

In the week that is, the events of Brookline have been distilled to a mere misunderstanding, long forgotten, at least on a public level. Mickelson though was not about to become an apologist.

When asked whether Europe would draw motivation from what happened on the 17th green - Justin Leonard's putt that effectively won the Ryder Cup and the American team conducting a salsa class while Jose-Maria Olazabal waited to putt - or the fact that they blew a 10-6 lead, Mickelson suggested the latter.

"I think I would be more motivated by losing a four point lead going into Sunday. The emotion of the Ryder Cup in 1999 was no different than what we have seen every year the tournament takes place. That goes back to when I started watching them in 1987 at Muirfield where people danced on the green in celebration.

"The Ryder Cup brings out emotions that we don't see normally and it is just part of the event. It's a good part of the event. I remember in 1997 people jumping in the lake on the 17th when Scott Hoch was about to hit. It's just part of the tournament. I think that the emotion that is brought out in this event is what makes the event so unique."

It is not a surprise Mickelson loves this form of golf given his superb record in the competition, particularly in singles, where he hasn't lost a match.

"It's a nice change from strokeplay. We enjoy the intensity that matchplay provides between two players as opposed to the vagueness of playing the golf course and trying to shoot a score.

"I think it is important to shoot low scores but we seem to use the concept of team as a motivating factor for us as we did in 1999 when we had a comeback that had never been done in the history of the matches. We use the concept of team and the closeness that we develop over the course of the week to bring out our best play. It's important but the most important thing is shooting low scores.

"I certainly enjoy it (matchplay), find it challenging. I try to bring out my best golf in these matches because they're important and I also understand the history of them and enjoy being a part. I've been fortunate to have the record that I have but we would always like it to be better."

Mickelson dismisses the notion that those who have struggled with their games, whether in recent months or season long, will struggle to elevate themselves above mediocrity or worse. He maintains that form is transient, requiring but a moment to resurface. It can be a nondescript trigger, a thought, a minute change in the swing that can prove the catalyst.

He is adamant that every player, irrespective of allegiance, has prepared as thoroughly as possible and that the demands are over 18 holes rather than the more difficult process of thriving over the 72-hole strokeplay format.

"We feel like going into this week we've all tried to prepare out best to be ready for these matches. How we have played in the last nine months doesn't have much bearing on this particular week."

The players are aware of how they will be paired, certain formats, form being reasonable, and being the "control freaks" that they are this is a type of comfort blanket. They can, according to Mickelson, just about stomach, in the uncertainty of the draw to find out who they will tee it up against.

"From a player's point of view, looking intrinsically out, I would want to have direction knowing what's going to happen.

"That extends to who I will be playing with, what type of golf ball we're going to be playing, what holes I'll be teeing off on in alternate shots and what our strategy will be on the marginal holes in best-ball, tee-shot wise, approach wise. I perform much better having an idea of what is going to happen.

"Extrinsically, looking outside in, I think part of the excitement is not knowing who is going to be paired against whom, having that blind draw of who plays whom. This is not a format where you match up the pairings, US against Europe, but put them in a box and see who you are paired against. It's exciting for the spectators but from a player's perspective I want to know what's going to happen."

Inevitably a question arose about Mickelson's sobriquet of being the best player in the world not to have won a major and the possibility a good performance in the Ryder Cup could act as a springboard for next season.

"It seemed to be the case that when Fred (Couples) played with Raymond (Floyd) at Kiawah in 1991 it created a different Fred Couples as a player.

"The following year he had a spectacular win at the Masters and also the Players Championship at Bay Hill, all landslide victories. So historically it has occurred that players have taken their play from Ryder Cup and used it to inspire play on the regular tour.

"Will it happen this year? Possibly. Who will it be? I don't know?"

It could be one of the few questions to which the outrageously talented American can't find an answer to this week.