CHASKA, Minn. -- The method will undoubtedly be questioned, as it was two years ago at a Gleneagles news conference where you couldnt thaw the ice with a blow torch. Another chill filled the air as Phil Mickelson spoke Wednesday at Hazeltine National.The World Golf Hall of Famer has been blunt about the U.S. Ryder Cup shortfalls, making clear in the aftermath of the 2014 defeat that changes were needed to promote success. Mickelson also took the controversial step of criticizing then-captain Tom Watson in front of the world.On Wednesday, Mickelson took Hal Sutton to task for a 12-year-old simmering annoyance of being paired with Tiger Woods for two sessions at Oakland Hills in 2004, using it to illustrate his point.Thats an example of starting with the captain that put us in a position to fail, and we failed monumentally, absolutely, Mickelson said. But to say you just need to play better; that is so misinformed because you will play how you prepare.Mickelson, 46, seemingly has a lot at stake when the 41st Ryder Cup begins Friday at Hazeltine.He put himself front and center as the man who pushed for and got significant change in the U.S. Ryder Cup structure, with his critical comments at Gleneagles followed by the launch of a task force that chose Davis Love III as the captain and set forth a plan that will be in place for years to come.If that is putting any extra pressure on Mickelson to perform, he isnt showing it.In my 20 years, this is the first time that we are actually involved in the decision-making process, Mickelson said. And the decisions we are accountable for every single year, we now have involvement in those decisions, and that gives us a whole platform to work forward.This is the foundation week for us. This is the week where all the past captains, past vice captains, PGA of America officials have had involvement in the decision-making process. And from this, well work forward and keep continuity into 2018 and from that well build on in 2020.Mickelson made no secret of his distaste for the old process in the aftermath of his eighth Ryder Cup defeat in 10 tries two years ago, when the U.S. lost 16? to 11? and he butted heads with Watson.Afterward, Mickelson wondered why the U.S. had strayed from the winning formula it had used in 2008, when captain Paul Azinger implemented a pods system with heavy input from the players.Watson ruled in a heavy-handed manner, which might have worked for him in 1993 but failed miserably two years ago -- when he got his second crack at the captains job after having not been part of any Ryder Cup in the intervening years. And he was picked by former PGA president Ted Bishop with no input from the players.And while it seemed in bad form to be so openly harsh -- even indirectly -- toward Watson, the prevailing wisdom has been that Mickelson made a bold move and was willing to take the heat to bring change.I think he knew the only way it would get the attention that it needed was to say it then and there, said a source who was privy to the inner workings of the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup team. In 08, there was a plan and I think everybody knew exactly what [was happening] for the entire week. Other times its been more fly by the seat of your pants.You can boil it down to play better or make more putts. But what Phil was getting at was its easier to prepare and spend all your energy on your golf game. I think Phil and others felt they spent a lot of energy trying to figure out what youre going to do. That uncertainty takes energy away from you.That is exactly what Mickelson referenced Wednesday as it applied to the 2004 Ryder Cup and his pairing with Woods. Mickelson and Woods were not told about the plan for them to play together until two days prior. Mickelson said he had difficulty hitting the golf ball Woods uses, hence he spent considerable time figuring that out, neglecting other parts of his game.Two years ago, there were instances of pairings by Watson in which the players had not practiced together.Those are just a few of the examples over the years that rankled Mickelson.I think it took a lot of guts for Phil to do that, and he took a bit of a hit for it, the source said. That was Phil saying, I really care about the Ryder Cup and Im tired of us losing. Mickelson was part of the 11-member task force that set out to change the losing ways and build toward the future.But he has long admitted that, ultimately, playing better will be the key. Although Mickelson has gone 5-2 in the past two Ryder Cups -- in losing efforts -- his overall record of 16-19-6 has often been cited as a reason the Americans have underperformed.Mickelson, however, is not alone. Most of the top players on the American side have losing records, including Jim Furyk and Woods. All have had numerous partners in the team matches, a factor cited in the failure to build consistency or continuity.Phil is going to tell you how it is, Jordan Spieth said. Hes going to come up to each and every person and tell them something that he really appreciates and likes about their game and how confident he is in how they are going to play that week. Its a great feeling, and it does give you an extra level of confidence. He sets high expectations for this team, just like our captains do, and they should.Almost to a man, the players enjoy Mickelsons company. They love his stories, appreciate his needling, appreciate how he attempts to bring out the best in them. Even Woods, who has become friendlier with Mickelson over time, has been in constant communication with his longtime rival over the past few weeks in his role as a vice captain, strategizing over pairings.When Phil gets up to speak, he obviously has a purpose when he says something, Love said. Hes not winging it. Hes been a team leader Id say the last six or eight teams Ive been around. Hes been a leader on the golf course or in the locker room or in the team room.Mickelson took the unusual step last week at the Tour Championship of switching driver shafts so he could hit the ball farther this week at Hazeltine. The move hurt him in the short term during the lucrative Tour Championship, causing him to struggle as he adjusted.Lefty didnt care. He noted that he had already won two Tour Championships, that the Ryder Cup was his main goal. He spent a good bit of time trying to make the situation better.Perhaps the biggest thing he can do now? Set an example by playing well. 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Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Bilal Powell made sure that Bryce Pettys rough start had a positive finish for the New York Jets.Powell ran for 145 yards, including the game-ending 19-yard touchdown in overtime, to help Petty and the New York Jets rally from 14 points down to beat the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 on Sunday.It shows the character we have, Powell said. Its not the season that everyone was expecting but we keep fighting and we have a lot of guys on the team who showed a lot of pride.Petty threw an interception on his first pass of the game and the Jets (4-9) trailed 14-0 less than five minutes into the game. San Francisco (1-12) led 17-3 at halftime, but fell flat after that and lost a franchise-worst 12th straight game.Powell took over from there and scored his second TD of the game on New Yorks first possession of overtime after Pettys scramble and 26-yard pass to Robby Anderson put the Jets in field-goal range.First half was probably about as ugly as I could play, Petty said. I came out a little bit more nervous than I thought I was going to be. ... Hats off to the team for sticking with me.Petty, who went 23 for 35 for 257 yards in his second career start , rallied the Jets back from a 17-3 deficit in the first half by leading two fourth-quarter scoring drives. New York used a 15-play, 66-yard drive to cut the deficit to 17-14 with 5:04 left when Powell bowled his way in for a 5-yard run and Petty ran in the 2-point conversion .New York then forced a punt and Petty led the Jets 33 yards to tie the game on Nick Folks 50-yard field goal with 38 seconds left.Hyde ran for a career-high 193 yards and caught a TD pass, but Phil Dawson missed two field goals and San Francisco failed to score on its final eight possessions to squander a 14-point lead for the third time this season.We have to make plays, quarterback Colin Kaepernick said. Thats what it comes down to. If you dont go out and execute and dont go out and make plays, you wont get it done on offense.KEY PLAYThe 49ers won the toss in overtime and drove to New Yorks 37, where they faced a fourth-and-2. Coach Chip Kelly opted to go for it rather than kick a field goal or punt and the Jets stuffed Hyde for no gain for one of tthe few big plays on run defense after allowing 248 yards rushing for the game.dddddddddddd(Thats) what Im used to seeing, coach Todd Bowles said. The first drive, second drive of the game is not what Im used to seeing. They stepped up and won.ROUGH STARTThe game couldnt have started worse for Petty. He telegraphed a short pass to Quincy Enunwa that Jimmie Ward intercepted and returned to the New York 7. Colin Kaepernick found Hyde in the flat for the TD on the next play to give San Francisco the lead. After New York went three-and-out the next possession, San Francisco moved 81 yards on four plays with help from a 47-yard run by Hyde to set up Shaun Draughns 4-yard run that made it 14-0 just 4:11 into the game.KAPS ROLLER COASTERAfter getting pulled last week after completing just one pass in three quarters in snowy Chicago , Kaepernick looked much better early back home in better weather conditions. He completed his first seven passes with 95 yards in the first quarter before faltering. He finished 15 for 26 for 133 yards as San Francisco had just 17 yards passing after halftime -- its fewest in 11 years.Thats on me as a play-caller, Kelly said. I just really wasnt confident.INJURIESBoth teams were hit hard by injuries with the scariest coming when Niners receiver Torrey Smith was knocked out with a concussion when his helmet slammed against the turf as he fell on an incomplete pass in the third quarter. Smith was motionless for a bit as players kneeled in concern. He was eventually able to sit up and was carted off the field with a towel draped over his head.San Francisco also lost center Daniel Kilgore (right leg) and tight end Vance McDonald (shoulder) to injuries.New York lost running back Matt Forte (knee), tight end Brandon Bostick (ankle), and defensive backs Marcus Gilchrist (knee) and Buster Skrine (head). Forte will have tests done Monday but said he doesnt believe he has ligament damage. Gilchrist will undergo season-ending surgery for a patella tendon tear.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Hockey Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys China Wholesale Baseball Jerseys China Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys Near Me Cheap Jerseys Online Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic MLB Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Throwback Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '