Even sweeter than Phil Mickelson slipping into another green jacket was seeing his wife waiting for him behind the 18th green at Augusta National with tears streaming down her face.
Amy Mickelson, with her long blonde hair and easy smile, had not been at a tournament since she was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 months ago. Her husband had not looked the same ever since.
A shattered world seemed at peace in the fading sunlight Sunday at the Masters, where Mickelson made one last birdie for a 5-under 67 to capture his third green jacket with a three-shot victory over Lee Westwood.
The outcome was never in doubt when he arrived on the 18th green. The conclusion was more emotional than anyone expected.
“I wasn’t sure if she was going to be there,” Mickelson said.
He shared a long embrace with his wife behind the 18th green, and as he walked to the scoring trailer to sign for the lowest score at Augusta in nine years, a single tear trickled down his cheek to his lip.
“We’ve been through a lot this year. It means a lot to share some joy together,” Mickelson said at the green jacket ceremony, his voice cracking has he struggled to keep control. “It’s been such an incredible week, an emotional week. And to cap it off with a victory is something I can’t put into words.
“It’s something we’ll share for the rest of our lives.”
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