Tom Watson Pens "Open Letter" To His Ryder Cup Squad

Responding to the details emerging from Bob Harig's reporting and other inevitable tidbits over the coming weeks, 2014 USA Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson did his best to stop the bleeding by issuing an "open letter" via his friends at the PGA of America. The letter dropped on a busy college football Saturday, a little more than 24 hours after Harig's story.

Here is the letter in its entirety:

OPEN LETTER FROM TOM WATSON, 2014 U.S. RYDER CUP CAPTAIN

In response to all of the recent discussion about our Ryder Cup loss, I would like to make a few comments.

First, I take complete and full responsibility for my communication, and I regret that my words may have made the players feel that I didn’t appreciate their commitment and dedication to winning the Ryder Cup. My intentions throughout my term as Captain were both to inspire and to be honest.

Secondly, the guys gave everything. They played their hearts out. I was proud to get to know each and every one of them. I know they are all going to win tournaments, be on future Ryder Cup teams and have wonderful careers.

Our team certainly showed guts when it took it to the other team early in Sunday's singles matches. We were indeed tied with them as the scoreboard turned wonderfully “red.” Our players started fast as I had asked them to in my comments the night before. I asked them to really concentrate on holes 2-5, as the Europeans had won too many early battles on these particular holes.  But in the end, the facts are that the other team played better. My hat's off and congratulations to them.

As for Phil's comments, I completely understand his reaction in the moment. Earlier this week I had an open and candid conversation with him and it ended with a better understanding of each other's perspectives. Phil's heart and intentions for our Team's success have always been in the right place. Phil is a great player, has great passion and I admire what he's done for golf.

The bottom line is this. I was their Captain. In hindsight whatever mistakes that were made were mine. And  I take complete and full responsibility for them. I want to say again to the players, their families, the PGA and our country how proud and honored I was to captain this talented group of golfers, and how privileged I was to spend the past two years working this labor of my love for the Ryder Cup.

In the Higher Ground Open, Watson took over the early lead and probably has, sadly, defused this completely non-vital but utterly entertaining saga. And he wisely did this in writing so that his sincerity could not be judged. Assuming, of course, that he wrote this and it was not just the work of the PGA's crack PR man Julius Mason and signed off on by Watson.

More interesting will be just how much this ends up as the last word on the matter that golfers remember, or will the slow drip of embarrassing details ultimately overshadow the letter and our memories of Captain Tom Watson.