Amy Mickelson diagnosed with breast cancer

World No.2 suspends his golf schedule to be with his wife

Golfmagic correspondent
Thu, 21 May 2009
Amy Mickelson diagnosed with breast cancer

breath cancer
Amy Mickelson with her husband at the Ryder Cup

    The golfing world has been shocked today by the news that Phil Mickelson's wife, Amy (37) has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The left-handed golfer will be suspending his US PGA Tour schedule indefinitely starting with the Byron Nelson Classic today and the Colonial, next week, where he was due to defend his title.

Mickelson's management company, has revealed that his wife is to have more tests but is expecting to begin treatment with major surgery within the next two weeks.

The couple met in 1992 at Arizona State University a year after he won his first title as an amateur. They were married in 1996 and have three children - Amanda (9) Sophia (7) and Evan (6).

Their first child was born the day after the 1999 US Open at Pinehurst, where Mickelson carried a pager and promised to abandon the tournament and race to his wife's side if she went into labour. Dramatically he lost on the final green to Payne Stewart.

Famously, Amy knew little about the golfer when they met. She wrote in Mickelson's autobiography 'One Magical Sunday': "I grew up in a tennis family and when he told me he was a pro golfer, I thought he worked in the shop at a golf course."

She is rarely far from his side at tournaments and was waiting with the family by the 18th green at the 2004 Masters when Mickelson won his first major.

The World No.2's return to Bethpage Park, New York for the US Open from June 18-21 will depend on how his wife recovers from treatment and surgery.

Tiger Woods has already sent a message to the Mickelson family: "Elin and I are deeply saddened to hear the news about Amy. Our thoughts and prayers are with her, Phil, the children and the entire Mickelson family."

*Irish Ryder Cup golfer Darren Clarke lost his wife Heather in August 2006 after a long battle with breast cancer.