Mickelson faces battles of his own as US Tour tees off without Tiger

Despite the pressure of his wife and mother fighting cancer, many say the American could have finally beaten Woods

(GETTY IMAGES)

If all things had been equal – and, more pointedly, if a certain fire hydrant had remained upright and a dozen mistresses kept schtum – Tiger Woods would have been teeing off his competitive year in San Diego today. Instead the burden of favourite status will fall on Phil Mickelson. In fact, the burden of many tags will fall on those famously sloped shoulders.

How about the de facto world No 1? How about the de facto man everyone has to beat? How about the de facto player all the viewers and yes, sponsors tune into see? That is a lot of de factos to be throwing at a professional, particularly one who revealed last night that he, himself, will have to miss events himself this year because of family problems. Mickelson's, however are of an entirely different nature.

His wife, Amy, and his mother Mary are recovering from treatment for breast cancer and though, in Mickelson's words, "they are doing great", their battles are ongoing. In March, Amy requires more procedures. "It means I'm going to be skipping the [WGC] World Match Play next month," said the father of three. "Not because I want to. It's a wonderful tournament and I love Tucson. But it's the best week to have a family vacation because of Amy's treatment."

Golf is feeling selfish and this news will have sent a shiver down the game's spine. Being minus Woods is bad enough, but also being minus the only other golfer with a household name is the stuff of mass corporate evacuations. Mickelson went on to allay fears of any long-term absence and his sport will be grateful for it. As it will be for his confidence.

In expressing his hopes of "getting into contention and provide some excitement" he showed he was ready to step up to the mark – starting with the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines this week. Seeing as the course is where Woods famously won the US Open on one leg two years ago and where he has won the last five events he has played, Mickelson's chances have appeared to increased tenfold. In this regard, one man's vice could truly turn out to be another man's virtue.

Not that Mickelson was about to exclaim: "Tiger who?" Indeed, the three-times major winner was positively humble about the 14-times major winner. "Nobody will be able to fill the shoes which have been voided," he said. Neither was he about to crow about Woods' predicament, even though it would have been hard to deny him a few digs, what with the Tiger camp always providing the animosity in a relationship most politely described as "cool". Some might see the irony in Mickelson being labelled the "fake". Some. But not Lefty.

"The game of golf needs him to come back, but right now he's got a lot more important things going on in his life," Mickelson said. "Amy and I are good friends with Tiger and Elin, and we care deeply how this turns out. But I'm going to choose not to talk about it publicly anymore and I appreciate your understanding on that." Later when asked the reasons for his silence, he replied: "I feel it would be a violation of our trust and our relationship." Later still, he revealed that in the last few months "we've had limited communication with the Woodses".

Yet it wasn't all respectful subservience. "This year whether or not Tiger is in the field, I still believe that this is an opportunity for me to compete in majors, to challenge him," said Mickelson, who turns 40 in June. "I expect this year with or without him to be one of the best years of my career."

Since linking up with Dave Stockton, the "War On The Shore" Ryder Cup captain, Mickelson's putting has been transformed. Meanwhile, under Butch Harmon his driving game has undergone a similar personality overhaul. "I feel ready," he said. "At the end of last year I felt like things were starting to really come together. Taking some weaknesses and turning them into strengths gives me the belief that this could be an exceptional year."

When Stockton told GolfDigest last week "it's totally sad Tiger is not playing a normal schedule, because Phil could take on Tiger and we could see who does what", it could hardly be classed in the careful-what-you-wish-for category. Two weeks ago, Ernie Els said: "Even if you ask Tiger, I think Phil has got right to his level throughout his game. There is a new guy we got to chase."

Mickelson overhauled Woods to win the Tour Championship in October then a few weeks later in Shanghai beat Woods. Little wonder Mickelson said: "I'm anxious and excited to get the year started." He has so much to play for.

If all things had been equal – and, more pointedly, if a certain fire hydrant had remained upright and a dozen mistresses kept schtum – Tiger Woods would have been teeing off his competitive year in San Diego today. Instead the burden of favourite falls on Phil Mickelson. In fact, the burden of many tags will fall on those sloped shoulders.

How about the de facto world No 1? How about the de facto man everyone has to beat? How about the de facto player all the viewers and yes, sponsors tune into see? That is a lot of de factos to be throwing at a professional, particularly one who revealed last night that he, himself, will have to miss events himself this year because of family problems. Mickelson's, however are of an entirely different nature.

His wife, Amy, and his mother Mary are recovering from treatment for breast cancer and though, in Mickelson's words, "they are doing great", their battles are ongoing. In March, Amy requires more procedures. "It means I'm going to be skipping the [WGC] World Match Play next month," said the father of three. "Not because I want to. It's a wonderful tournament and I love Tucson. But it's the best week to have a family vacation because of Amy's treatment."

Golf is feeling selfish and this news will have sent a shiver down the game's spine. Being minus Woods is bad enough, but also being minus the only other golfer with a household name is the stuff of mass corporate evacuations. Mickelson went on to allay fears of any long-term absence and his sport will be grateful for it. As it will be for his confidence.

In expressing his hopes of "getting into contention and provide some excitement" he showed he was ready to step up to the mark – starting with the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines this week. Seeing as the course is where Woods famously won the US Open on one leg two years ago and where he has won the last five events he has played, Mickelson's chances have appeared to increased tenfold. In this regard, one man's vice could truly turn out to be another man's virtue.

Not that Mickelson was about to exclaim: "Tiger who?" Indeed, the three-times major winner was positively humble about the 14-times major winner. "Nobody will be able to fill the shoes which have been voided," he said. Neither was he about to crow about Woods' predicament, even though it would have been hard to deny him a few digs, what with the Tiger camp always providing the animosity in a relationship most politely described as "cool". Some might see the irony in Mickelson being labelled the "fake". Some. But not Lefty.

"The game of golf needs him to come back, but right now he's got a lot more important things going on in his life," Mickelson said. "Amy and I are good friends with Tiger and Elin, and we care deeply how this turns out. But I'm going to choose not to talk about it publicly anymore and I appreciate your understanding on that." Later when asked the reasons for his silence, he replied: "I feel it would be a violation of our trust and our relationship." Later still, he revealed that in the last few months "we've had limited communication with the Woodses".

Yet it wasn't all respectful subservience. "This year whether or not Tiger is in the field, I still believe that this is an opportunity for me to compete in majors, to challenge him," said Mickelson, who turns 40 in June. "I expect this year with or without him to be one of the best years of my career."

Since linking up with Dave Stockton, the "War On The Shore" Ryder Cup captain, Mickelson's putting has been transformed. Meanwhile, under Butch Harmon his driving game has undergone a similar personality overhaul. "I feel ready," he said. "At the end of last year I felt like things were starting to really come together. Taking some weaknesses and turning them into strengths gives me the belief that this could be an exceptional year."

When Stockton told GolfDigest last week "it's totally sad Tiger is not playing a normal schedule, because Phil could take on Tiger and we could see who does what", it could hardly be classed in the careful-what-you-wish-for category. Two weeks ago, Ernie Els said: "Even if you ask Tiger, I think Phil has got right to his level throughout his game. There is a new guy we got to chase."

Mickelson overhauled Woods to win the Tour Championship in October then a few weeks later in Shanghai beat Woods. Little wonder Mickelson said: "I'm anxious and excited to get the year started." He has so much to play for.

8

The number of majors Tiger Woods had won before Phil Mickelson won even his first – the 2004 Masters.