Mickelson in good place with latest win, family and future

text size

Sep. 27, 2009
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

ATLANTA -- From the pink wristband inscribed with his wife's name to the ever-present ribbon on his cap, Phil Mickelson's 2009 season has been about much more than birdie putts like the ones he poured in on Sunday.

So it was hardly surprising to see the juxtaposition of emotions that attended his victory in THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola on this crystal-clear autumn afternoon at East Lake Golf Club.

MORE MICKELSON

Interview transcript
Video: Shot of the Day Video

Final scorecard: 9 under
Replay his 5-under 65

The win may have been Mickelson's third of the season, but it was also the first since he and his wife, Amy, released the news that she had breast cancer. Just weeks later, they revealed that his mother, Mary, had also been diagnosed.

Suddenly one of the game's most popular players became a very public face for a disease that strikes more than 200,000 women a year. On Sunday, Mickelson paid tribute to the two in his life -- and touched millions of others, as well.

As naturally as he would thank swing guru Butch Harmon or Dave Stockton, who has helped resurrect his putting stroke, Mickelson told the crowd ringing the 18th green how proud he is of Amy and his mother.

Later, he paid tribute to the doctors who specialize in the research and treatment of breast cancer and "save so many people's lives, my wife and mom included," as well as the women who have participated in clinical trials to test new drugs to fight the disease.

"I don't know even where to start or finish," Mickelson said. "I've got a lot of things going through my mind, but it just feels great to finally get my golf game up and going a little bit."

He spoke to Amy while he was in the scorer's trailer after finishing off a bogey-free 65 that gave him a three-stroke victory over Tiger Woods and second place to the world's No. 1 in the FedExCup. Amy had skipped a Girl Scout meeting and watched the tournament with friends.

"She had a great day," said Mickelson, who was flying to San Diego on Sunday night. "I'm excited to go home and see her and the kids."

Mickelson's long-time caddie, Jim Mackay, standing nearby with the bright yellow 18th pin flag tucked safely in his pocket, called the win a "monstrous" one for his boss. Bones is actually the one who suggested Mickelson call Stockton, who last week guided the lefthander back to the putting stroke he had used as a kid with such good results.

"And you can't underestimate what Butch has done," Mackay was quick to pay tribute to the two years of work Mickelson put in with the swing coach. "Everything has come together."

Mackay was the one who heard the determination in Mickelson's voice as the two had walked to the car on Thursday. His boss had just squandered four shots playing veritable ping-pong on the 14th green, but he was undeterred.

"He was like, that was not fun, but I'm going to be there," MacKay recalled. And Mickelson was -- making up a four-stroke deficit with Sunday's lowest round and playing his final 54 holes in a sizzling 12 under.

"Today was a lot of fun," acknowledged Mickelson, who sealed the victory when he chipped in for a fist-pumping birdie at the 16th hole.

"I thought it was a tough, challenging day with the wind. I knew that it was going to be difficult for some of the leaders or the group behind me to take off and run. ... I played one of the better rounds I played all year."

That year has included two extended breaks as Mickelson spent time with his wife and mother.

He came back from six uncertain weeks off after the initial diagnosis and nearly won the U.S. Open. He opted out of the British Open, though, after Amy started treatment. By the time the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup rolled around, things were settled enough for Mickelson to concentrate on the game again.

Wherever they play, Bones has seen the fans reach out to Mickelson -- and not just because they covet one of the many, many autographs he signs. They want to share their stories, and in sharing also give him hope.

"Here he is in a competitive round, and someone (in the crowd) will say I hope your wife and your mom are OK. My wife had it, too," Mackay said. "Phil invariably goes over to them and says I hope she's OK."

In some ways, then, this victory is theirs, too. It belongs to Mickelson and his family, but the fans who support him can take comfort that some degree of normalcy has returned -- and together they can all look ahead to better times.

"I think that I'm excited to get 2009 behind me and look forward to 2010," Mickelson said. "I'm excited about this off season, to be able to spend more time doing fun things, vacations, what have you, with Amy and the kids.

"And I'm excited about where my golf game is headed in that I know where my long game is headed with Butch's guidance, and I know where my short game is headed with both Daves' guidance, and I'm excited about what 2010 brings.