Mickelson to take leave, announces wife has cancer
Phil Mickelson was gearing up for his favorite time of year, working his way toward Bethpage Black and another crack at the U.S. Open before a New York gallery that treats him like a rock star. All that changed, along with his priorities, when he disclosed that his wife, Amy, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Mickelson is taking an indefinite leave from the PGA Tour. He withdrew from the Byron Nelson Championship, which he won in 1996. He is to defend his title next week at Colonial, but even that is uncertain. A statement from his management company said his 37-year-old wife would have more tests, though treatment would begin with "major surgery" as early as the next two weeks. Mickelson, a three-time major champion with 36 career PGA Tour victories, was closing in on the No. 1 ranking held by Tiger Woods. He was runner-up to Woods at Bethpage Black in 2002.
NHL: : An attorney for Las Vegas-based businessman John Breslow, who owns 3 percent of the Phoenix Coyotes, said Breslow told the NHL he has formed a group interested in submitting a bid for the team. Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the team this month.
Horse racing: : Rachel Alexandra returned to the track for the first time since winning the Preakness. She galloped a mile on a fast Churchill Downs track. Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird galloped 1 1/2 miles for the first time since finishing second at the Preakness. ... Flying Dixie, with John Velazquez aboard, won the $47,040 allowance feature for fillies and mares at Belmont Park.
Tennis: : Maria Sharapova routed Darya Kustova, 6-2, 6-0, to reach the quarterfinals of the WTA Warsaw Open in her first singles tournament since returning from shoulder surgery.
Auto racing: : NASCAR suspended driver Carl Long for the next 12 Sprint Cup races and fined crew chief Charles Swing $200,000, the largest penalty in the sport's history. Swing also was suspended until Aug. 18 for using an engine that was too big for NASCAR's specifications last weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Long was docked a NASCAR-record 200 points.
Cycling: : Mark Cavendish won the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia, Danilo Di Luca retained the overall leader's pink jersey and Lance Armstrong moved up two spots to 16th overall.
Soccer: : Jadson scored in the seventh minute of overtime, and Shakhtar Donetsk of the Ukraine beat Germany's Werder Bremen, 2-1, to win the final UEFA Cup.
- From Sun staff and news services
