Mickelson comes to Colonial looking forward, not back

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Phil Mickelson has worn a pink ribbon on his hat since his wife, Amy, and mother, Mary, were diagnosed with breast cancer.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The tone was set early. With the second question, in fact.

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Could Phil Mickelson please go back 53 weeks, back to that dark and dreadful time when he and his wife Amy learned she had been diagnosed with breast cancer? Mickelson interrupted the reporter before he could elaborate.

"Not really, no," he said politely, later making sure to shake the reporter's hand when the interview was over. "I don't really want to go back there. ... That was a tough time, and I'm happy that we are further down the road now."

The long-term prognosis for Amy and Mickelson's mother, Mary, who received the same devastating news roughly a month later, is a positive one. Amy was even well enough to accompany her husband to the Masters last month, where their tearful and lingering hug at the 18th hole after Mickelson's third victory won't soon be forgotten.

Amy won't be able at Colonial this week, though. But her always upbeat spirit and abundant energy will be honored once again in Saturday's second annual "Pink Out" to raise money for the Susan G. Komen for a Cure Foundation. Crowne Plaza will donate $100 for every birdie and $500 for every eagle made during the third round.

In less than five days, the PGA TOUR Wives Association organized last year's event in conjunction with the PGA TOUR, the tournament and the Komen Foundation. Amy and Phil -- who understandably opted not to defend his title at Colonial last year -- watched from their San Diego home as players, fans, caddies and TV announcers donned the color of choice in support of her battle and the other hundreds of thousands of women diagnosed each year.

"Last week Amy and I commiserated over our one-year anniversary and this event really helped us get through some tough times," Mickelson said. "The fact that the TOUR wives organized a 'Pink Out' on Saturday and Peter Ripa, and members of Colonial supported it, and are continuing on, meant a lot to us and gave us a huge emotional boost at a very difficult time.

"We will always remember that and be appreciative of that."

And this year, Mickelson, who has been wearing a pink ribbon embroidered on his Callaway cap since he returned to competition at last year's St. Jude Classic, will get to go whole hog, so to speak.

"Mentally, for me, the challenge is wearing pink, because I know I don't look good (in) pink," Mickelson said with a grin.

You can't walk very far around these parts without being reminded of the "Pink Out" and Mickelson's return. Several families are setting up a Pink Lemonade Stand on Colonial Parkway. One sign, rimmed in the trademark plaid tartan, in the front yard of a home across from the entrance, says "Welcome back, Phil the Thrill and Amy."

The tournament has used a similar theme in its advertising as much as touting defending champion Steve Stricker. Not that the world No. 4 minds.

"He is almost the defending champion as well this week," Stricker said. "I thought it was the greatest feel good story in golf when he won at the Masters, and seeing Amy there, and being friends of both of them, and seeing Amy breakdown the way she did was pretty cool.

"... I think he is going to be tough to beat here too. I think he will be coming back here with his game in shape and winning here a couple of years ago obviously he's got some good vibes too. It's a great story in how everyone pulls together and rallies behind Phil, and breast cancer, in general, so it should be good."

The Crowne Plaza Invitational represents a golden opportunity for Mickelson as a golfer, too. Not only is he beginning his preparation for the U.S. Open but Mickelson has a chance to take over the No. 1 spot in the world for the first time in his career with a win on Sunday.

"I will probably try to downplay it typically," Mickelson said, repeating words he uttered at THE PLAYERS Championship when he had his first chance this year to dethrone Tiger Woods.

"But I think it's one of those things you will look back on in your career if you've accomplished it, whether it's one week, a year or whatever the time frame is, it would be something very special. But to accomplish that, I can't focus on that. That's a result.

"I still need to go out and play like the No. 1 player in the world, so I've got some work to do."

The U.S. Open is another huge goal for the veteran, who turns 40 that week. Mickelson has finished second in the major championship five times, including at Bethpage Black last year, and he'll be playing at Pebble Beach where he's won three PGA TOUR events.

"It's actually one of the tournaments I've played my best at, believe it or not, the U.S. Open," Mickelson said. "It's a tournament that you would think would be my least likely to succeed at, but yet I continue to play some of my better golf in that event.

"I would love to win our national championship. It would mean a lot to me. ... So it's a tournament that I'm gearing up for and trying to put everything into it."

Just as he is this week at Colonial, where he also won in 2000 and 2008. Saturday is sure to be an emotional roller-coaster, but one that is sure to be satisfying, as well.

"Let's just say I'm happy to be back," Mickelson said. "I'm looking forward to playing Colonial. I'm happy that we are a year down the road and that long term things are good, and that I am able to come back and enjoy this event."