Playing partners, fans make Phil's return memorable

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A throng of fans came out to watch Phil Mickelson open with a solid 68.

Jun. 11, 2009
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- There was enough pink in the gallery at TPC Southwind on Thursday to know it wasn't random.

Like the man with those big, dark green tattoos etched on both forearms and each calf. You had to think he didn't pick those powder-pink Bermuda shorts on a whim.

Granted, it wasn't up to "Pink Out" standards. At the same time, though, it wasn't an organized effort like the one two weeks ago at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

Mickelson on Amy's diagnosis

Fans like Tammy Baker simply came to the St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx to show their support for Phil Mickelson, who was making his first start since announcing his wife Amy had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Mickelson responded, too, shooting a 2-under 68 in his first competitive round in a month to finish within two strokes of the early lead. He made one bad swing, putting a 4-wood in the water at his ninth hole (No. 18) on the way to a double bogey, but also had six birdies.

"It wasn't a great round, but it was a good start," said Mickelson, who opened with two birdies and closed with two in his last three holes.

"That's certainly not going to be at the top of the leaderboard, but it didn't hurt me any to where a good round tomorrow can get me in contention for the weekend."

Mickelson had hoped for a sense of normalcy, and he got what he wanted inside the ropes at TPC Southwind with Padraig Harrington and Cameron Beckman. At the same time, though, he couldn't help but notice the color of choice.

"The 'Pink Out' at Colonial was one of the nicest things I could ever imagine," Mickelson said. "That meant more to Amy and I than I can verbally express. (It was) our first week, week-and-a-half dealing with it, and it just came at a perfect time.

"I have seen some out there today, too, and if that's the intent, it certainly means a lot."

Baker, who wore a pink, striped shirt, pink shorts and a pink ribbon, made the trip from Kentucky to Memphis with her husband to follow Mickelson. The couple goes to two or three tournaments a year and can always be found in the big lefthander's gallery.

"I love his personality," said Baker, who has collected Mickelson's autograph several times but never officially met him. "I think his demeanor is phenomenal. He's always nice. He acknowledges his fans, and to me, that means a whole lot."

Baker's voice cracked when she recalled the morning that she heard Amy Mickelson had breast cancer. She remembers she could barely talk when she called her husband at work to tell him the news --- "It affected me so much," she said.

She'll be back in Mickelson's gallery on Friday afternoon and make no mistake, Baker will be sporting the proper color. "Before I left, I grabbed everything in my wardrobe that was pink," she said with a smile.

After he did the requisite round of interviews, Mickelson took out his Sharpie and patiently signed autographs for about 20 minutes. One fan handed him a card in a pink envelope. He thanked her and stuck the card in his back pocket to read later.

Another held out a binder with the Sports Illustrated cover that featured him with the words "The People's Choice" for Mickelson to sign. Time after time, people told him that they were praying for Amy, and one gentleman added, "Bring her home a win."

There was a poignant moment when a woman in a blue shirt told Phil she, too, had battled breast cancer. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," Mickelson said, looking up from the hat he was signing. "Did they catch it early?"

The woman nodded in the affirmative.

"But I know it's awful scary when you're waiting," she said.

At least on Thursday, Mickelson was able to take his mind off that wait for a little while.