A difficult year for Phil Mickelson has gotten even tougher with the revelation that his mother has breast cancer, less than two months after Mickelson's wife Amy was diagnosed with the disease.

Mary Mickelson is scheduled to have surgery later this week at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, which is the same hospital where Amy Mickelson had surgery last week. Amy Mickelson received waves of support from the golf community, and Mary Mickelson should receive the same. The AP notes that she and Phil's father continue to live in the same San Diego home where they raised their kids, another reminder that for all the praise (and criticism) these guys receive, they have mothers and childhoods just like the rest of us.

Phil, fortunately, is in a financial position to be able to provide two of the most important women in his life with the best medical care possible, and when they all come through the other side of this terrible period, they'll surely reciprocate and aid other families stricken by the disease.

Although Mickelson's golf is surely the least of his concerns at the moment, it's likely this will keep him off the course for this month's British Open, and possibly longer. He showed by his strong performance in the U.S. Open that he can shut out the outside distractions and play well, but how much should one man be expected to bear?

Best wishes to the Mickelson family as they work through these tough times.


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