Amy Mickelson Photos: The Story of Her Life With Phil

Amy Mickelson
Amy Mickelson of the USA smiles during the rescheduled Afternoon Foursome Matches during the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort. Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Amy Mickelson, born Amy McBride in 1972, is the wife of golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson. Theirs is one of the most successful pro sports marriages, by all accounts, and they've had three children together. They've also survived some major health scares.

Amy and Phil met when she was a performer with the Phoenix Suns dance squad in the NBA, and harbored dreams of becoming an actress some day. Instead, more than 20 years of marriage later, Amy Mickelson has become a sort of den mother to other PGA Tour wives and girlfriends, and a person who is widely admired. The photos and text to follow tell the story of Amy and Phil.

How Phil and Amy Mickelson Met

Phil and Amy Mickelson at the 1997 NEC World Series of Golf
Phil and Amy Mickelson in 1997. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The above image of Amy and Phil Mickelson was taken a few months before their first wedding anniversary, at the 1997 NEC World Series of Golf.

Amy and Phil first met in 1992, when she was Amy McBride and a junior at Arizona State University. She was also a member of the Phoenix Suns cheerleading squad. Phil had just graduated from ASU, but was already a famous golfer: A year earlier, he won the PGA Tour Northern Telecom Open as an amateur.

Amy didn't know who Phil was, however. In their 2004 book One Magical Sunday, Amy said, "When he told me he was a pro golfer, I thought he worked in the shop at a golf course."

Their first date was to play tennis. That went well, and they kept seeing one another around Phil's golf schedule. Early in 1993, Phil invited Amy to attend the Bob Hope Celebrity Pro-Am in Palm Springs, Calif., not far from Phoenix.

Amy followed Phil (outside the ropes) one day, and, according to the Mickelsons' book, he decided to play a joke on her. He wrote a note and wrapped it around his hotel room key, then asked his caddie, Bones Mackay, to hand it to Amy. Bones did so. In the book, Amy writes:

... I didn't understand why he handed it to me because Phil was standing on the edge of the green (only 10 feet away) with a big grin on his face. When I opened the note, the hotel room key fell onto the ground. And the ladies who were standing around me just gasped. Well, I was so mad, I picked up the key and threw it at Phil as hard as I could.

Smooth move, Phil! "Luckily, Amy had a great sense of humor and, fortunately, forgave me for the prank," Phil wrote. "It wasn't long after the tournament that we started getting really close."

Phil and Amy Mickelson Get Married

Amy Mickelson
Harry How / Getty Images

After dating for four years, Phil Mickelson and Amy McBride were married on Nov. 16, 1996.

In this above, Amy Mickelson shares the spotlight with Phil and the trophy Phil received for winning the 1998 Mercedes Championship. Seeing Amy Mickelson congratulate Phil following a victory has been a common sight during the golfer's career (after all, he's won quite a bit.)

In Moments of Defeat, Too

Amy Mickelson comforts Phil following a loss to Tiger Woods at the 2001 Bay Hill Invitational
Craig Jones/Getty Images

With the previous image we noted that scenes of Amy congratulating Phil have been common during his golf career.

But Phil Mickelson has endured some losses that hurt, too, and Amy has usually been there to offer comfort and solace. In the photo above, Amy is doing just that after Phil lost a famous, head-to-head duel with Tiger Woods at the 2001 Bay Hill Invitational.

She's "the Phil Whisperer," you might say.

On the Craig Kilborn Show

Amy Mickelson greets husband Phil on the set of The Craig Kilborn Show.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Above, Amy rocks the black leather pants look during an appearance with Phil (right) on the Craig Kilborn Show after Phil won the 2004 Masters Tournament.

For much of their marriage, Amy has been a fixture at Phil's tournaments. She often attended his tournaments when they were dating, too, although she admitted not knowing much about golf. According to an espn.com article, "The first time she accompanied him to a golf tournament ... she figured they would walk hand-in-hand down the fairway and was angry at him for not spending enough time with her."

2004 Ryder Cup Gala

Amy Mickelson
Andrew Redington / Getty Images

In this image, Amy Mickelson and husband Phil pose on the red carpet before attending the 2004 Ryder Cup Matches Gala Dinner. As you can tell, the Ryder Cup Gala Dinner is a formal affair.

All three of the couples' children were born by this point in their marriage. The Mickelson children are Amanda Brynn (born June 21, 1999), Sophia Isabel (born Oct. 23, 2001) and Evan Samuel (born March 23, 2003).

There are interesting stories about the births of two of the Mickelson's children. Want to here them? Of course you do! Keep reading.

The Pager and the 1999 U.S. Open

Amy Mickelson
Stuart Franklin / Getty Images

In this image, Amy and Phil Mickelson pose with the Wanamaker Trophy after Phil won the 2005 PGA Championship. That was Phil's second win in a major, but for many years - until winning his first at the 2004 Masters - Phil was tagged with the "best player without a major" title.

One of his closest calls prior to finally winning a major was at the 1999 U.S. Open, which Payne Stewart eventually won with some late birdies. Phil carried a pager with him during the final round, because Amy was pregnant with their first child and due to go into labor at any moment.

Phil said that no matter what the situation in the final round, even if he was leading, he would leave the tournament to be with Amy if she went into labor. And Amy did go into labor - but decided not to tell Phil. Although Phil lost the tournament by a stroke, he did get to Amy's side in time for the birth of Amanda.

Going Formal

Amy Mickelson
Andrew Redington / Getty Images

In this image, Phil and Amy Mickelson make their entrance to the Gala Dinner at the 2006 Ryder Cup Matches.

The couple always appears happy and loving in public, but that doesn't mean there haven't been tribulations in private. In 2003, Amy nearly died during the birth of their third child, Evan.

A complication during childbirth left Amy with a ruptured artery in her uterus. Meanwhile, baby Evan wasn't doing very good himself - he wasn't breathing. Phil Mickelson wrote of the episode in his book One Magical Sunday, talking about sitting in the hospital and fearing that both his newborn son and his wife were going to die.

But with the quick and decisive actions of doctors and nurses, both Amy and Evan pulled through, although both were in delicate health for some time after.

Amy and Elin

Amy Mickelson (second from left) next to Elin Nordegren (second from right) at the 2006 Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony
Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Amy Mickelson and Elin Nordegren — a k a, the then-Mrs. Tiger Woods — share a laugh during the Opening Ceremony at the 2006 Ryder Cup in the photo above (they are in the middle).

Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods had a testy relationship during earlier times, but their wives appear to have always gotten along, and Phil and Tiger's relationship warmed over the years. The Mickelsons and Woodses are known to have engaged in epic doubles ping-pong matches in Ryder Cup team rooms.

Courtside

Professional golfer Phil Michelson and his wife, Amy, watch the Minnesota Timberwolves take on the Los Angeles Lakers in Game six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2004 NBA Playoffs on May 31, 2004 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Given Amy's background as a one-time dancer in the Phoenix Suns' dance squad, it shouldn't be a surprise that Amy and Phil have always enjoyed attending NBA games.

In the photo above, the two are courtside during a 2004 playoff game in Los Angeles.

Shades

Amy Mickelson photographed at the 2008 Ryder Cup
Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Above, a candid portrait of Amy Mickelson during the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.

That event was one of the last few public appearances by Amy before the announcement in Spring 2009 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Amy began treatments in the middle of 2009, and late in the year and into 2010 was flying to Houston for treatments and medication.

Amy Mickelson at the 2010 Masters

Phil Mickelson embraces wife Amy after winning the 2010 Masters
Harry How/Getty Images

Amy Mickelson gets a hug and a kiss (above) from husband Phil following Phil's victory in the 2010 Masters.

After her breast cancer diagnosis in early 2009, and the beginning of treatments later in the year, Amy stopped traveling with Phil to his tournaments. She was flying to and from Houston for treatments, and for much of the time did not feel up to also traveling to tournament sites.

But she decided to go to Augusta, Ga., with Phil for the 2010 Masters. She did not attend the first, second or third rounds. But with Phil in contention on the final day, Amy and the Mickelsons' three children made their way to Augusta National Golf Course.

When Phil walked off the final green as the winner of the tournament, Phil and Amy shared a long, emotional embrace.

Phil and Amy at the 2012 Ryder Cup Gala

Phil and Amy Mickelson at 2012 Ryder Cup Gala
Amy Mickelson and Phil Mickelson pose before entering the gala dinner prior to the 2012 Ryder Cup. Andrew Redington / Getty Images

By the 2012 Ryder Cup, Amy Mickelson was back in full swing, attending many of Phil's tournaments. Her battle with cancer had a happy conclusion, after a trying period of treatment, and Phil (and many other golfers and their wives) were thrilled to be seeing Amy regularly at tour stops again.

Phil, Amy and the Mickelson Kids

Mickelson Family at 2013 British Open
The Mickelson family after father Phil won the 2013 British Open. Andrew Redington / Getty Images

It's a happy family portrait after the 2013 British Open, which Phil Mickelson won. Phil is holding the Claret Jug, and also wife Amy. The Mickelson's three children kneel in the front as their parents share a kiss (Were they thinking, "Eewwww! Mom! Dad! You're embarrassing us!")

Phil and Amy's children are (from left to right) Sophia, Evan and Amanda. Amanda is the oldest, born in 1999. Sophia was born in 2001, and Evan, the youngest, was born in 2003.

Still Going Strong

Jim Furyk, Tabitha Furyk, Amy Mickelson, Phil Mickelson, Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler of the United States pose during the 2014 Ryder Cup Gala Concert
David Cannon/Getty Images

In the photo above, Amy and Phil Mickelson pose with Jim and Tabitha Furyk (while Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler, far right, photobomb the two couples) prior to a Ryder Cup Gala concert in Scotland in 2014.

As Phil and Amy have matured and aged and grown their family together, they've also assumed "elder statesman" (apologies to them for using the term "elder") among their peers in the PGA Tour world of golfers and their spouses.