Mickelson bears his burden with dignity

FOR reasons that are as different as a birdie is to a bogey, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have not been totally involved in the business of the PGA Tour for months now.

Woods’ lofty place within the PGA Tour world showed cracks in early 2009 when he limped back into action after a knee injury. He then took a leave of absence later in the season when his family life unravelled.

As for Mickelson, his attachment to the PGA Tour developed a bit of separation in May of 2009 when it was revealed that wife Amy had breast cancer. Understandably, golf didn’t just take a back seat; it wasn’t even in the vehicle that drives his emotions.

Regardless what the world rankings say now and have said over the years, Woods and Mickelson are numbers one and two — in skills, in popularity, in star attractions — and being limited to part-time status has been bad news for the pro game in America.

Yet as they embarked upon the annual pilgrimage to Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, it was a bit of a stretch to say they each had their family woes. Accurate on a wide scale, perhaps, but on closer examination they are grossly different.

Whereas Mickelson’s family heartache is one of those unplanned occurrences in life that people of strong will deal with, the mess Woods finds himself in is self-inflicted, and a testament to the absurd levels of poor thinking one can fall to when he allows selfishness to guide him.

Yet for all their distractions and all their problems, both Woods and Mickelson are in the thick of things halfway through the 2010 Masters. In both cases, it’s a bit of a surprise, their immense skills notwithstanding, simply because neither man had provided any sort of form to suggest their golf was ready to tackle the precision of Augusta National.

Woods, of course, hadn’t played competitively since winning the Australian Masters on November 15, while in seven tournaments this season, Mickelson had posted but one quiet top-10 finish and had hardly looked sharp.

So, what has happened? Woods posted his second straight sub-par round, a two-under 70, to push to six-under and get within two of the clubhouse leader, Ian Poulter.

Though he failed to make a birdie after the par-5 15th, Woods continued to stifle the criticism of a lifestyle that has created a tabloid frenzy.

It’s a result that many predicted, given the polite galleries drawn to Augusta National, but it’s one that sickens those who feel repulsed by his actions.

To those critics, it is Mickelson who should be embraced. Let the record show, he feels that way at Augusta National.

“My expectations are high,” Mickelson said, brushing aside thoughts that the slow start to the season had soured his enthusiasm. “I’m able to rely on my short game here, if I make mistakes. So I’m excited about the upcoming rounds.”

Woods and Mickelson are as opposite as personalities can be, which seemingly makes them perfect bookends to hold together golf’s popularity. Each has credited their families for much of their incomparable success (entering this week, Woods had 71 PGA Tour wins, 14 of them majors, while Mickelson had 37 and three), but that aspect separates them even more these days.

Woods icily told reporters earlier this week that his wife, Elin, will not make an appearance at Augusta National. Mickelson has tried to keep things as normal as possible, while it can pretty much be assumed that it is anything but.

Quietly, and with very little fanfare, Mickelson’s friends and supporters have expressed admiration for the way he has handled this ordeal.

Having tried to juggle visits with his wife to doctors in Houston, a home life with their three children, and his PGA Tour desires, Mickelson has done so without excuses and without complaints.

His choppy play thus far in 2010? The left-hander flashes his trademark smile and talks passionately about turning things around at a place that holds a special place in his heart. It was here, after all, when his legacy was changed forever. Seemingly destined to be a player who couldn’t deliver in the game’s biggest championships, Mickelson in 2004 slam-dunked a birdie putt at the 72nd green to win his first major championships. A PGA Championship win followed in the summer of 2005, then the next spring he won his second green jacket.

“It’s the most exciting place to come lay as a player,” Mickelson said earlier in the week, and now that an opening 67 and a solid start to his second round have him on the first page of the leaderboard, four-under and within five of the clubhouse lead, Mickelson is hearing thunderous applause at ever tee and every green.

Unlike Woods, he probably deserves it.