All eyes on Mickelson

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – The U.S. Open might have one tough act to follow.

Tiger Woods was pure theater at Torrey Pines last year, playing on a left leg so badly injured that the U.S. Open turned out to be his last event of the year. He made two eagles on the final six holes in prime time Saturday to take the lead, forced a playoff with a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday, then battled Rocco Mediate over 19 holes to capture his 14th career major.

“I’m not sure we can duplicate that drama,” USGA president Jim Vernon said Wednesday.

Try telling that to thousands of fans who trudged through the soggy turf of Bethpage Black for five hours on the final day of practice, all because it was their first glimpse of Phil Mickelson.

The New York gallery has always loved Lefty, even as he broke their hearts with runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open at Bethpage in 2002, Shinnecock Hills in 2004 and Winged Foot in 2006 with that double bogey on the final hole.

Mickelson wasn’t even sure he could return to Bethpage Black upon learning last month that his wife, Amy, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Only after getting some optimistic news that the cancer might have been caught early did Mickelson feel comfortable leaving California in search of a major that has caused him so much grief.

How much he plays the rest of the year depends on what doctors find then his wife has surgery two weeks after the U.S. Open.

“I’m putting everything I have into this week, because I don’t anticipate being able to play for a little while,” Mickelson said. “And the fact that my normal support system – Amy and the kids and so forth – aren’t going to make the trip this week, I’m kind of hoping to feel that support to help me through the week.”

That should be easier to find than a cab in Times Square.

Mickelson started his practice round on the 10th tee, the farthest corner of Bethpage Black, yet they were waiting for him. He wore a pink ribbon sewn into his white cap, and some of the fans also wore pink. It was the largest crowd of the week when he made the turn, every grandstand full, every step accompanied by applause.

“He already is so popular in New York,” swing coach Butch Harmon said. “And now with everything going on with Amy, they have even more love for him. He talks to them. He smiles at them. He takes time for them.”

This was for a practice round, typically a quiet day on the eve of the U.S. Open. Imagine the energy if Lefty works his way into contention Sunday, with his wife at home facing such uncertainty.

Mickelson found inspiration from messages from his wife.

“She has left me a number of little notes, texts, cards, hints, that she would like to have a silver trophy in her hospital room,” Mickelson said. “So I’m going to try to accommodate that.”

So much motivation, yet so many obstacles.

The biggest might be the Black Course at Bethpage, already a beast with five par 4s longer than 500 yards. It is playing even longer because of rain that has soaked Long Island for the last month, with a nasty forecast of showers most of the week.

“From tee to green, this golf course is all you want,” Woods said.

The other obstacle is Woods.

Not only is he the defending champion at the U.S. Open, he is the defending champion at Bethpage, the only player to finish under par in 2002 when he held off a Sunday rally from Mickelson.

With two wins in seven starts since returning from knee surgery, Woods appears to be hitting his stride. He is coming off a win two weeks ago in the Memorial, where he rallied from a four-shot deficit to win with a 65.

Mickelson also is a two-time winner this year, at Riviera and Doral. He says his swing is as good as ever, working hard on a baby cut that allows him to control his tee shots. The greens are among the flattest for a major, and they will be slightly slower than the USGA would prefer because of all the rain.