Tuesday 6 October 2015 09:25, UK
United States captain Jay Haas still expects Phil Mickelson to play a key role against the Internationals in this week's Presidents Cup in South Korea despite struggling for form this season.
Mickelson, 45, was something of a surprise captain's pick by Haas last month as he was 30th in the standings after a disappointing run of results over the last two years.
The left-hander was also a captain's pick in the inaugural Presidents Cup in 1994, but had played his way onto every US team since, compiling a record of 20 wins, 16 losses and 11 matches halved.
Haas told a news conference on Tuesday the five-time major winner and world No 23 brought so much more to the team than his performance on the course and said that had been a key factor in his decision to overlook higher-ranked players.
"I think Phil, the intangibles that he brought to the team maybe put him over the top," Haas said at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea.
"You could say his play didn't warrant being a consideration and all that. But I don't know you can put a value on what he means to the players and the demeanour he brings into the team room."
Mickelson, who has not won on the PGA Tour since the The Open two years ago, was a popular choice within the entire US set-up, said Haas, who is captaining the team for the first time.
"I would say that across the board, the players were all-in when we were texting them and talking to them. The captains, certainly, were all about Phil," he added.
"I guess the way I've been answering, 'why did you not pick such and such a player and this player and that?' I don't think there were any negatives to any of the players that we passed over."
JB Holmes had been one of those players overlooked by Haas but the big-hitting 33-year-old was drafted in at the last minute after Jim Furyk withdrew due to a wrist injury.
"I think ultimately being No 12 on the list, it was hard to pass him up initially," said Haas. "And then certainly his last couple events, BMW finishing fourth I think and sixth at The Tour Championship, I think that pretty much answered any questions there.
"As Jim Furyk said, we've certainly gotten younger and longer, and this course looks good to his eye, I believe. This time last week, he wasn't on the team, so he's excited."
The United States have dominated the Presidents Cup, winning eight times in 10 editions, while the International team's only success came in 1998 at Royal Melbourne in Australia, with the teams battling to a tie in South Africa in 2013.
United States team: Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed, Chris Kirk, Bill Haas, Bubba Watson, Zach Johnson, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, JB Holmes, Phil Mickelson.
Watch the Presidents Cup live on Sky Sports 4HD from 3am on Thursday.
