Pfft, VDV is a Frenchmen, right? Sucked, but I didn't feel for him like I did Tom. Hell, I'm not even sure I knew who he was at the time.
Like you said, that putt was his chance. I listened to him recap it, and he and his caddie both agreed on the club (8 iron i think) and he hit it perfect. The vagaries of a links course: it took a bad bounce, but the shot he hit, he thought it would be a tap in, and likely would have been if not on a links course, or even a links course much of the time.
I thought Watson got another nut kick from the Ryder Cup team last year. Even if he wasn't a great coach, you're pros, just go win your f'n matches you bunch of whiners. It's not that complicated: beat the guy(s) you are playing, and then team chemistry will be magical.