DUBLIN, Ohio — Phil Mickelson plans a brief return to the PGA Tour in time to play in the U.S. Open.
The world’s No. 2 player suspended his schedule indefinitely upon announcing two weeks ago that his wife, Amy, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Recent tests have given them hope the cancer has been caught early, with more tests over the next month.
Mickelson intends to return next week at the St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tenn., then play the following week in the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, according to a person informed of the plans.
“We heard there was a possibility he would play,” St. Jude Championship spokesman Phil Cannon said. “That would be great.”
Mickelson is a sentimental favorite at every U.S. Open, where at age 38 he already has tied the record for most runner-up finishes with four. He is especially popular in New York, and his presence at Bethpage Black figured to bring an emotional and raucous response.
He has never finished worse than fourth in his four U.S. Opens held in New York.
But his return might not last long.
Mickelson first thought surgery for his 37-year-old wife could happen as early as a few weeks since the announcement, but that has been pushed back for another month.
Her treatment and recovery will dictate whether he plays in the British Open, or how much he plays at all the rest of the summer. Mickelson already has won twice this year and is No. 5 in the FedEx Cup standings.
Amy Mickelson is among the most popular wives in golf, mingling with friends and fans with equal ease as she follows him around the course. The support has been overwhelming, with phone calls and messages from players, and visible support on tour.
Saturday at Colonial, the PGA Tour Wives Association worked with the tour and title sponsor Crowne Plaza to promote “Pink Out,” in which players, wives, officials and fans were encouraged to wear pink.
Ian Poulter was dressed in pink from head-to-toe, and most players wore some form of pink. Vijay Singh, one of Mickelson’s fierce rivals, wore a pink shirt. Even the CBS Sports crew wore the color in support.
Obama to chair Presidents Cup
President Barack Obama has agreed to be the honorary chairman of The Presidents Cup, the sixth consecutive time for an active head of state to be involved in the biennial golf competition.
PGA Tour officials said it was not known if Obama would attend the matches, to be played Oct. 8-11 at Harding Park in San Francisco. The only head of state who did not attend was President George W. Bush in 2005 because of Hurricane Katrina.
Former President Gerald Ford was honorary chairman when the matches began in 1994, and former President George H.W. Bush accepted the role in 1996.
Since then, every active head of state or government in the host country has served as honorary chairman — U.S. presidents Bill Clinton (2000) and George W. Bush (2005); Prime Minister John Howard of Australia in 1998; South Africa President Thabo Mbeki in 2003; and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada in 2007.
The matches are between the United States and an International team consisting of players from every continent except for Europe. The United States is the defending champion, winning at Royal Montreal two years ago.
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