Mickelson finds success in toughest season yet

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The Mickelson family had a turbulent 2009, but things are looking up heading into the new year.

What will you remember about the 2009 season? That was the simple question we asked PGATOUR.COM staffers and writers, who responded with a series of short essays. As we finish up November, we'll post several each day. Click here for next essay

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Adversity is one of the most used -- and perhaps overused -- words in sports, but it's an encapsulating word for the career of Phil Mickelson.

From the "best to never win a major" tag to his "I am such an idiot" assessment after the meltdown at Winged Foot, Mickelson is the one player in this era who has caught so many bad breaks that even fans of his rivals sympathize and root for him.

Mickelson's 2009 season marked his toughest year yet -- and by now you know it had nothing to do with birdies or bogeys.

In May, Mickelson's wife, Amy, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Six weeks later, he revealed that his mother, Mary, also had the disease. What an unimaginable hardship for any family, let alone the Mickelsons, who have three young children.

Mickelson had his priorities in order, though. Forget about golf. He played just two back-to-back events during a three-month span, one of those a tie for second at the U.S. Open, and flew home to San Diego to check on Amy in between.

How moved was the PGA TOUR? There were private words and public support from the players -- particularly during the "Pink Out" at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, where Mickelson would have been defending his title.

Mickelson was his usual gracious self in acknowledging the outpouring, but he still had to cope.

"I've never been this emotional where if I'm driving alone or what have you I'll just start crying," Mickelson said at the St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx in June. "It's kind of a weird thing. I'm looking forward to have a four- or five-hour mental break where I force myself to focus on something else. I'm looking forward to that."

Amy and Mary began treatment, and the situation calmed enough for Mickelson to return to his normal TOUR schedule in August.

For years, Mickelson played under overwhelming pressure to put up results befitting one of the world's best players. In the second half of 2009, that suddenly seemed insignificant. Golf became therapeutic.

The results? Extraordinary.

Mickelson conquered his personal Everest not once, but twice, overtaking Tiger Woods for victories at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola and the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.

Media guides will show another standard Mickelson year in 2009 -- three PGA TOUR wins, second in the FedExCup standings and one heck of a Presidents Cup, going 4-0-1 for the victorious Americans.

It has been far from ordinary, though. The Mickelsons are facing battles greater than the game of golf.

"I'm very proud of my wife and my mom on the fight that they've been through, and we've been fortunate in the long-term," Mickelson said at THE TOUR Championship. "We're in good shape. Although day-to-day is tough, and the meds are tough, and it's not easy for them, we're fortunate that our long-term outlook looks good."

Nick Zaccardi, a PGATOUR.COM Site Producer, has followed Phil Mickelson's career from its humble beginnings. Zaccardi's favorite Mickelson memory? That unforgettable cameo scene in "Tin Cup."