Mickelson gives us Masters story to feel good about
Family issues aside, things are looking up for Phil Mickelson at the Masters. He's one shot off the lead at 11 under going into Sunday's final round. (AP photo)
AUGUSTA – It’s a Masters weekend, and the story just changed to one we can wrap our arms around.
It’s not about the guy who is being protected by an army of security guards more fitting for heads of state as he walks around a golf course, just on the chance some fan mounts an attack with a pimento-cheese sandwich. It’s about the guy who moves about like he’s at a family reunion, with little visible security, smiling and acknowledging fans from tee to green.
It’s not about the guy whose wife, and mother of two, has — and certainly will have — all the money she’ll ever need, but had her life torn apart by a philandering husband. It’s about the guy whose wife, and mother of three, as well as his own mother, are undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
Saturday at Augusta National belonged to Phil Mickelson. It should. He could use some good news.
Mickelson’s wife, Amy, and his mother, Mary, both are battling breast cancer. His family traveled with him to a tournament for the first time since Amy was diagnosed 11 months ago. This is their reward.
Phil Mickelson reacts after nearly chipping in on 15 for a third straight eagle. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Mickelson fired back-to-back eagles for the third time in Masters’ history on holes 13 and 14. He followed that with a birdie on 15. By the time his third round ended, he was 5 under for the day, 11 under for the tournament and one shot back of leader Lee Westwood.
Finally, a story that doesn’t come surgically attached to paparazzi. (On a related note, Tiger Woods is 8 under, and for once he was an afterthought.)
Mickelson called it “a fun round.” He talked about the loud roar he heard after the second eagle on 14, saying, “It was pretty cool, that walk up. I can’t believe that ball disappeared and went in.”
Then he addressed the significance of having his family here.
“This is the first time they’ve traveled in 11 months [since The Players Championship last May],” he said. “It’s really fun having them here. It takes a lot of the heartache away, and it’s been great.”
Mickelson’s wife and mother have been undergoing treatment at the M.D. Anderson
Amy Mickelson is in Augusta this week but has not attended any days of the tournament.
Cancer Center in Houston. Mary walked nine holes and watched her son play Thursday. Amy, weakened by treatments, is in Augusta but has yet to make it to the course.
Asked following his news conference Saturday whether his wife would attend the final round, Mickelson said, “I don’t think so.”
His kids caddied for him in Wednesday’s Par 3. Mickelson beamed throughout. There is no way to measure how having his family in Augusta has impacted his game. But given that he has one top-10 finish in seven tournaments this season, you be the judge.
He was 7 under and five shots back of Westwood when it seemed like somebody blasted him with pixie dust. On the par-5 13th, he reached the green in two with a 7-iron from 195 yards and putted home from eight feet for an eagle. On the par-4 14th, he hit his second shot with a wedge from 141 yards that bounced about six feet from the hole and rolled in.
With Westwood bogeying the 12th, Mickelson made up five strokes in two holes. He then birdied No. 15, narrowly missing a Masters’ record three consecutive eagles when his third shot from 87 yards out rolled just past the cup. This follows Friday when he birdied 13 and 17 and nearly No. 18, when a 50-foot putt lipped out. If he plays Sunday’s 18 the way he has played his past 27, he’ll win his third Masters.
We hear a lot about the pressure Woods is under. But that pressure is self-inflicted. Real pressure is what Mickelson is going through, not knowing whether you may lose your life partner for something completely out of your control.
His sponsor-covered hat now includes a pink ribbon for breast-cancer awareness. His wife’s doctors have become like family. Last week, at the Shell Open in Houston, Mickelson pulled oncologist Dr. Tom Buchholz out of the crowd and used him as a caddy for a few holes. Good karma. He birdied three consecutive holes.
“He’s been a huge part of helping us get through, and our surgeon, Dr. Kelly Hunt — this lady was incredible,” Mickelson said earlier this week. “These two have helped us in the toughest time of our life.”
A Masters win can’t possibly make up for everything. But it’s one story worth cheering for.
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180 comments Add your comment
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
April 11th, 2010
11:44 am
Tiger is golf’s version of Axl Rose.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:44 am
The Wad — No offense taken. I’ll pass it along to Bish who’s five seats to my right.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:44 am
Thanks Sloan
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:45 am
Angela — Terrific comments.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:45 am
Thanks Steve . . . and Reid.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:46 am
JohnD — Lucky? Really?
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:46 am
Thanks Larry.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:47 am
SowegaDawg — Thanks for the comments. Can’t wait to see how today unfolds.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:48 am
Thanks Cloudy.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:49 am
Adrianne — Yes, you figured it out. We build up and tear down. All part of a master plan. I plan to rip Mickelson six weeks from next Tuesday.
By the way, Oswald acted alone.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:50 am
Thanks for the comments, Alan.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:51 am
154 — Thanks. Don’t know much about Darren Clarke so didn’t know about wife.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:53 am
Sick and Tired — Is it only between him and his family and companies lose millions because of him, and entire PGA Tour and TV networks are affected? Sorry, but when you’re a public figure and there’s such a pronounced PUBLIC ripple effect with your actions, it’s not a private matter.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:53 am
Thanks Clay.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:54 am
Brenda — you’re banned for bringing race into this. I’m at zero tolerance.
Jeff Schultz
April 11th, 2010
11:58 am
Thanks Jay.
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 11th, 2010
12:22 pm
WOW JEFF you have had enough HUH? Race can be part if things but not always true for sure. I agree I am not sure race has anything to do with this issue what-so-ever. Again Thanks for the article on your mom that was so sweet.
gdg73
April 11th, 2010
12:24 pm
Introducing Tiger Woods, “the new negro people love to hate”. He continues in the long line of black sports stars villified by the media/country at one time or another in their careers. The list includes Jack Johnson, Jim Brown, Muhammed Ali, O.J., Barry Bonds, T.O., Mike Vick, and Randy Moss. Feel free to add to the list because I know I’m missing a few.
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 11th, 2010
12:29 pm
gdg73 Tiger is as african american as our president. Ali would no fight for the country that made him rich, OJ is a killer, Bonds cheated, Vick is a joke, TO & Moss just run their mouths. We don’t hate them we just wish they would go AWAY.
Ted Striker
April 11th, 2010
12:30 pm
This has been a truly wonderful tournament and I won’t be disappointed with ANY winner it ultimately produces.
In fact, the only two things that could have possibly improved the week’s story line for me would be if Cabrera (last year’s winner) and Duval (who struggled to make the tourney and failed the cut) were near the top of the leaderboard.
Again, however, a tournament to remember, no matter how it plays out.
tiger has no class
April 11th, 2010
1:27 pm
I agree 100% with your article. I will be pulling for Phil. He is a man of class that represents the game well. Tiger needs to learn a thing or two about self-control. I thought that maybe he had changed after his press conference on Wed, but after seeing him on the course in the last few days, it doesn’t look like he has changed a bit. He curses, LOUDLY, after every shot that he doesn’t like. He has absolutely no self-control, which is directly related to his infidelity. I can’t stand him.
OK then
April 11th, 2010
1:43 pm
Pi$$dawg,
W and Cheney wouldn’t fight for the country that made them rich either.
Jeff, sorry you don’t see the racial factor here. This boils down to a “blasian” golfer that married the ultimate white prize and then went out and cheated on her with more white ladies. It chaps the butt of middle age white dudes that write columns in fish wrappers all across the country. It also gives folks of color that our standing in the USA hasn’t changed much over the past 50 years, despite what your bank account looks like. Ban me if you will but you know the truth.
DP
April 11th, 2010
2:06 pm
Jeff, while you’re at it how about banning the vile Pi$$onaDAWG. He speaks of who “we” wish would go away. I wish he would go away.
NRBQ
April 11th, 2010
2:19 pm
I’m not sure a guy who’s unaware of the Darren Clarke tragedy should be covering golf at all. His emotional return to the game after his wife’s death from breast cancer (to help his team win the Ryder Cup) was a major, touching story among golf fans.
p
April 11th, 2010
2:20 pm
Nice story Jeff.
Dixie Clear
April 11th, 2010
2:24 pm
tiger woods sux…..
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 11th, 2010
2:38 pm
OKthen I am pretty sure W and Cheney gave plenty to their country. the Kennedy’s gave a great deal to the country too but they took a great deal too. MLK’s family has taken more form the country than they have given. Lets add Jessie and Louis Farrakan to that list. Quit making race the ISSUE when it is really about CLASS.
otis
April 11th, 2010
2:48 pm
OK, sad. Sometimes morons are right. OK, the loser above. Middle white dudes fought and died for this country. For the most part, white males. Get over it susie. Work, education, RESPONSIBILITY, that is the difference between, USA, Iran, Iraq, africa. Diversity SUX! Screw the color of the skin. Oh by the way, Eldrick, or whoever he calls himself, Tiger,? how imposing, you sheep, he is a bum. Come on girls of color, what do you think? Have a great day, Georgia rocks! Screw pc.
otis
April 11th, 2010
3:15 pm
Try not to be weak. The woods fellow is a loser. Unreal how Americans will be pathetic. sad. go Auburn!
Robards
April 11th, 2010
3:17 pm
Actually 154, I think it was Stuart Applebey’s wife who was tragically killed (hit by a bus or car). I think Darren Clarke’s wife tragically died of cancer.
Fair and Balanced
April 11th, 2010
3:21 pm
It was once said that when sportsmanship goes out of golf, then it is out of sports completely. The game of golf has some sacredness to it that other sports do not have. It is not about race when you speak of Tiger and his shortcomings. It is about a man who has some flaws that he needs to work on if he wishes to be embraced by the general public. I don’t get the inference by some that he is disliked by some because he is black. It ought to be remembered (as Tiger himself has pointed out) that he is half Thai, but this is not about race in any way. He has fans all over the world of every color and creed. Issues pertaining to Tiger Woods failings are about his place in golf and the history of it. Tiger declared long ago that he wishes to be an ambassador for golf. Admirable. But there is a cost to be paid for that and he knows it, but he is not paying it.
If we measure the greats of golf by their performance in Majors (and it is obvious that we do), then for me, unless there is a serious change in this man’s character (and I agree that we should judge a man by the content of his character and not the color of his skin) then I’m for Jack Nicklaus retaining the distinction of being the greatest golfer in history. The game of golf deserves that a man like Jack, whose life on and off the course has been exemplary to all, retain the title “greatest golfer ever”.
Tiger is exciting to watch and his fire is often very charismatic. It is also often very disgusting. He claims to be a Buddhist which has no real deity, so cursing a god that, in his mind does not exist is not a big thing to him. However, I would kindly request that his handlers remind him that a lot of his fans do believe in God, actually serve God and love Him. If he wants our respect, then his PR people ought to remind him that while he does not believe in Him, most people do and that he is very offensive and “off-putting” to many when he slams clubs and damns the God that created him and loves him and gave Himself for him.
And before the “you self-righteous…….” people come out with criticism of my post, please understand that forgiveness is in the offing from us believers. We want to forgive and we do forgive and we pull for people like Tiger and all others who have misplaced their worship of God for worship of drugs, drink, sex, rage, or anything else.
Mr Charlie
April 11th, 2010
3:40 pm
Tiger looks like he is out of gas.
Mr Charlie
April 11th, 2010
3:41 pm
I am pulling for Couples.
Mr Charlie
April 11th, 2010
3:45 pm
W and Cheney refused to fight for our country, yet they feel they are experts on War. Obama smokes, our surgeon general is obese, yet they feel they are experts in health. Our Treasury top dog is a tax cheat, yet he is an expert of how we should collect money. Does anyone really trust government?
Go Tiger!!
April 11th, 2010
4:06 pm
Mickleson the gambler and as everyone on the golf trail knows..a friend of the golf groupie? That’s the feel good story?? yeah………riiiiiiiight. Well he’s got the CP.
Go Tiger!!
April 11th, 2010
4:09 pm
Gosh this is nothing more than another of those “please dear God let the white guy win” columns. LOL, geez Schultz you personify that insecurity complex to a tee!
tiger is the only deity
April 11th, 2010
4:16 pm
hey phil… what size bra do you wear?
tiger is the only deity
April 11th, 2010
4:20 pm
hey phil, i see that you are growing your hair out… that along with your woman boobs go hand in hand
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 11th, 2010
4:23 pm
BlowMe Tiger I think Charles B, Micheal J, Mike V, Tiger, OJ and many Black Pros have betting issues. If you are a top Player you will bet on your ability. The problem is when the players bet against their abilities and SHAVE the score. I alway bet on myself to lose the pool game I play in the bar. TIGER is a GAMBLER just by looking at what he put his PUTTER in.
tiger is the only deity
April 11th, 2010
4:25 pm
piss on a dawg, what part of tiger being 50% asian do you not understand?????
his mother is thai and thais are not betters
to kill a yellow jacket
April 11th, 2010
4:29 pm
farther in heaven, hallowed be thy name, send your hatered down on georgie techs lane
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 11th, 2010
4:37 pm
Hines Ward and Obama are not all BLACK but that don’t stop the BLACKS calling them their own now do they? Tigers Daddy was a WARRIOR in the SF. I don’t hate tIGER i HATE THAT tIGER IS NOT 1/8 OF THE 100% BLACK FATHER IS DAD WAS. Tiger married a TROPHY but his dad married a PUNCHLINE back in the day. Mr. woods was a man that loved and respected his wife. Tiger not so much.
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 11th, 2010
4:41 pm
Done This is not about RACE it is about Skill and being a DADDY and Husband.
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 11th, 2010
4:42 pm
Come on Choi get in there. Fred do it for the Old Guys.
mdawg
April 11th, 2010
4:44 pm
piss on a dawg,
calling someones mom a “punchline” is very low.. she happens to be beautiful…. but i see that you do not know anything about asian culture.
mdawg
April 11th, 2010
4:48 pm
being a daddy and a husband has nothing to do with the masters.
there is a saying, ‘i may be able to forgive but karma will not”.
phils actions from his past will forever haunt him
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 11th, 2010
5:02 pm
Mdawg read again. I have two Korean sisters U Stupid F. When Tiger’s daddy brought home his Asian wife in the late 60’s early 70’s she was considered a punchline by both the balcak and white community. Wow, he married a submissive oriental woman because he could not handle an New American Woman ie “Maude” the Liberal Womans LIB movement. Read and LEARN.
Ted Striker
April 11th, 2010
5:02 pm
Not sure why some of you feel compelled to frame your sports opinions inside of comments that are clearly racially and/or politically divisive. Some of you just aren’t very cool.
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 11th, 2010
5:05 pm
Tiger is in his home! He is in the BADD RUFF where he swings his club best.
Mr Charlie
April 11th, 2010
5:15 pm
Tigers done.