Phil Mickelson's wife has breast cancer

We've all known been close to people who have battled cancer. The word "battled" always seems to be used, in fact, because there's probably no better word.

It's a battle.

To everyone who has fought or is fighting that battle or has someone close to them fighting it, little can be said that is genuine consolation.

The news just came out that 37-year-old Amy Mickelson, the wife of golf superstar Phil Mickelson, has breast cancer and will have major surgery.

I met Amy last month at the Masters. She could not have been friendlier or more cooperative to a sportswriter she had never before met. The proof is the openness she showed incomments she made to me about her husband.

Here's an excerpt from this Hlog post

About halfway down the steep hill from the No. 6 tee box to the sixth green, I found myself standing next to a woman who clearly was very interested in Mickelson's game. I asked her if he was any good.

“He gets lucky now and then,” Amy Mickelson said.  ”No, he's pretty amazing.”

Phil's wife of 12 years speaks of the Masters experience as being nothing short of sublime, and she's been about everywhere in pro golf that matters.

“I always notice how knowledgeable about golf the people are here, and how extremely kind and considerate they are,” Amy said.

Her husband won the Masters in 2004 and 2006, and wants more.

“This is the place in the world where Phil is happiest,” Amy said. “It's almost like a religious experience. Every shot means that much to him this week, even on Thursday.

“He loves it. It's really become such a part of who he is. He even putts in the dark here by himself, that's how much he takes it in. He'll come here at 8 at night and putt in the dark, just to get a feel of the place and heighten his senses.”

I thought that was good stuff. When Phil made a big charge at winning the Masters the next day, I really thought it was good stuff.

It turns out it was just another golf tournament. That woman has cancer, her husband is putting his career on hold, and we hope for the best. For them and everyone else on the planet dealing with cancer.