In a week when all the brouhaha surrounded Tiger Woods, how he’d respond and contend in his return to the course for the first time since the ghastly sex scandal was an ultimate concern, which deterred any optimism of an inspirational ending at Augusta.
This was an event consisting of infatuation, converting into a public scene with the world’s greatest golfer finishing fourth after returning from a five-month, chaotic hiatus.
In a sport that needed a touching story, Woods uplifted humanity as spectators applauded him everywhere he walked on the course, ecstatic that he returned and recovered from the hellish months.
But in the end, the focus of attention at the Masters wasn’t Woods’ stupendous comeback or potty mouth that ignited an outburst and begot a fuss. Rather, all the recognition turned to Phil Mickelson, a famous golfer and Woods's nemesis who won his third Masters by three strokes.
As much as Tiger hijacked the scene with his eye-opening first two rounds in the midst of his jarring status on-course and everyday life in general that is mired in tumult, all spectators dismissed the soothing and heartwarming opportunity Mickelson had finalizing an inspirational storyline at the Masters.
Amy Mickelson, Phil’s wife, was diagnosed with breast cancer and has been battling the deadly disease with chemotherapy sessions and resting in hospital rooms petrified. Never has jubilation exposed much emotion at Augusta National, endless tears of happiness and romantic hugs and kisses between a husband and wife, whom battled through adversity the last year.
It was the first time in 11 months that Amy traveled to witness her husband deliver a special win, collecting his third green jacket. She dripped tears behind the 18th green, proud of Phil’s accomplishments in a golf tournament he almost eagled three consecutive times Saturday, which gave him a cushion heading into the final round Sunday.
There’s no longer much conversation surrounding Tiger’s potty mouth or sex scandal that has marked his image to some extent. There’s no longer much gossiping about Woods affairs with mischievous bimbos, deceiving his wife, Elin, of his infidelity.
As of now, Mickelson captures adulation by winning his fourth major championship, finally capitalizing on the grandest stage.
It’s almost a glance at redemption, rebounding from a horrendous collapse at the Masters a year ago when he gaffed on the final day of competition. But this time, he prevailed seizing an inexplicable moment. His ailing wife cried when he rolled in his final shot, warm and delighted with her husband’s dramatic turnaround, in which he had finally sustained immortality.
Last year at the U.S. Open, he vowed to win at Bethpage Black and receive the grand prize to place it near Amy’s hospital bed, but dropped and stumbled against Lucas Glover. Four years ago, Mickelson was en route of capturing a victory at the Open, but ill-advisedly blundered in the tee box on a stroke that bounced off a tent.
Over the years, he has been unfortunate, descending in the late stages to lose out on a major championship. There were many rooting for him, even though Woods was pampered with much eulogy.
In the galleries, there were friendly fans pulling and cheering on Mickelson, every time he teed off on the fairways. It was fascinating that he was fearless and unflappable, slapping a shot between two trees on 13, leading to a birdie that organized a win.
The imagery from Mickelson was sentimental, suddenly at ease with fewer afflictions and a problematic crisis that has battered a distress family. In reality, he soothed a difficult scenario to bear with, building upon inspiration in his highest and most meaningful win of his golfing career.
Some will admit that Mickelson’s win resonated the sweetest sporting story in ages, relighting happiness for his wife and mother, who are both fighting breast cancer. This tournament has typified a memorable finish at the 2010 Masters, as many embraced Woods of contending in his return, but also viewed a romantic panorama at the end between Mickelson and Amy.
“I want to recognize my family,” Mickelson said. “My wife has been through a lot this year, and it means so much to us to share some joy together. She’s an incredible wife and an incredible mother, and she has been an inspiration for me this past year in seeing what she went through. I’m so happy that she and our three kids are here. It was such an emotional week, and I’m having a hard time putting it into words.”
Later, Mickelson talked more about his wife’s health status, in which her prognosis seems hopeful and promising of an enduring and healthier status. But cancer is an obscure illness that has a chance of reoccurring, despite experiencing chemotherapy.
“It’s been tough. It’s been tough,” Mickelson said repeatedly. “As I’ve said, we are fortunate long term, but the meds that she has been taking have made it very difficult, and she didn’t feel well. She doesn’t have energy, and she’s just not up for a lot of what this tournament can provide.
"To walk off the green and have her here to share this moment and share the joy of winning on 18 and to share this with my kids is something we’ll look back on the rest of our lives. This means so much to us, the jubilation. It’s very emotional. I don’t usually shed tears over wins.”
It’s not about the win, but it’s the magnitude of the win. He pulled it off for his uptight family, encountering anxiety and heavy burdens, unsure of a treacherous health condition involving a wife to a popular golfer and his children.
Long ago, Mickelson was criticized for lapsing in tournaments during Tiger’s absence, a point within a prominent pursuit that he presumably could have obtained winnings and eminence.
For a long period in time, Mickelson has been enveloped in the company of Woods, who has been saluted as an iconic golfer and the greatest athlete, stealing stardom with the sudden impact he delivers in the sport, even though he slept with damn near every waitress, stripper, porn star, and any other bimbo.
But now the noticeable transformation in golf happens to be Mickelson’s emergence at perfect timing. He hijacked the scene by reducing much hoopla about Woods. The title of best golfer in the world will always belong to Woods, but in the meantime, Mickelson is the best golfer with a monumental defeat to break away from the worrisome struggles that delayed fruition in prior major tournaments.
“Phil, I’m proud of you,” Masters chairman Billy Payne told him at Butler Cabin.
We’ve seen Mickelson at striking distance, at his very best in these Masters. In such a high-spirited mood, he fired a shot that landed within three feet of the hole, fueled with his unstoppable momentum and aggressive strokes.
In striking distance, Mickelson missed the putt, which would have been his third eagle in two days, but reprieved by making a birdie and possessing a two-shot lead over Lee Westwood and Anthony Kim, the 24-year old golfer who climbed the leaderboard in the late rounds.
Meanwhile, Mickelson pulled it off, not just for himself, but his wife. In what seems like a late win, it wasn’t too late for Amy. Seems an inspirational scene uplifted spirit at Augusta, when a committed, selfless golfer wins it for his lovely family.
That is, Phil, of course.
