Mickelson Playing For Sick Wife
As rain clouds threaten play at this week's U.S. Open, a far more serious threat hangs over the family of golfer Phil Mickelson. His wife Amy is battling breast cancer, as CBS News Correspondent Jeff Glor reports.
Phil Mickelson has spent most of his career playing in someone else's shadow. This week is no different. But instead of answering endless questions about Tiger Woods, all anyone here can talk about is his wife Amy.
Last month, the 37-year-old mother of three was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mickelson says, "It's hard for me to see such a good person go through something so difficult."
Through all her husband's highs and his heartbreaks, Amy and the kids have been an unmistakable presence.
Now, there's an outpouring of support.
At the recent Colonial Tournament, a wave of pink for breast cancer awareness overtook golf's usual green.
That support continues this week at the U.S. Open. Two-time breast cancer survivor Terry Wolters is a volunteer in charge of the grandstands.
Wolters says, "You cannot understand and there's really no words to make people understand what the support means."
The Mickelson family battle has put extraordinary attention on this issue.
An estimated 193,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year - the most common cancer in women by far. It accounts for 27 percent of all cases. 40,000 die from the disease every year.
Cancer survivor Carol Vietri says, "A lot of people know about breast cancer. But until it really hits close to home you don't really realize what people do go thru. So to see it publicized thru someone like Phil Mickelson ,I think it really does make a difference.
While Amy was unable to make it to the Open, she insisted that Phil play. He ended Friday in seventh place.
Amy's made it clear she'd like something even better.
"She would like to have a silver trophy in her hospital room, so I'm going to try to accommodate that," said Phil Mickelson.
When the tournament's over, he's announced he'll take an extended break.
The second best golfer in the world is putting family first.
