Emotional return

Now, they have a chance to give back.

Miles from home, with his thoughts never far from his wife, Amy, Mickelson has returned to a part of the country that’s provided him support and success. In his time of need, with his wife facing breast cancer, Mickelson resumes his quest to win the US Open for the first time, a sympathetic figure searching for a little on-course magic to help ease his off-course pain.

Many of the fans at Bethpage Black are ready to wrap their collective arms around him, intent on carrying him around the course and returning the personal interaction Mickelson has given them.

“I love playing in the New York area. The people here have treated me and my family incredibly, and I love coming back here and playing here,’’ Mickelson said. “Bethpage is one of my favorite golf courses. To be able to play this Open . . . I’m excited that things worked out.’’

That was hardly a guarantee. It was announced May 20 that Amy Mickelson was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Mickelson immediately suspended his PGA Tour schedule so they could be together for tests and determine a treatment plan. With those tests producing positive results, and the Mickelsons saying the doctors believe the cancer has been detected early, he chose to return to the tour before Amy has surgery, which is scheduled for next month. So Mickelson played last week in Memphis, with an eye on the US Open.

Based on his record in US Opens held in the New York area, it’s easy to see why he wanted to come to Bethpage. Mickelson has played in US Opens near New York City four times, never finishing worse than fourth: he was runner-up three times (2002 at Bethpage, 2004 at Shinnecock Hills, and 2006 at Winged Foot), and tied for fourth in 1995 at Shinnecock Hills.

The New York fans took to him from the start, especially in 2002, the only other time the US Open came to Bethpage. Still raw from the Sept. 11 attacks nine months earlier, the fans gravitated toward the underdog Mickelson, who was still looking for his first major championship (he finally broke through at the 2004 Masters). Mickelson finished three shots behind Tiger Woods in 2002, but the admiration he felt that week hasn’t been forgotten.

Asked if he thought the support might overwhelm him and detract from his focus, Mickelson said, “Possibly. Or it could be that that support helps carry me through emotionally when I’m on the course. I’m certainly hoping for that.’’

Woods dealt with a very public emotion at the US Open, making it his first tournament back in 2006 after the death a month earlier of his father, Earl. He missed the cut, the only one he’s missed in 12 US Open appearances as a professional.

“Is it easy? No, it’s not easy,’’ Woods said. “I couldn’t imagine dealing with what he has to deal with on a daily basis. Everywhere you go, people are reminding you of it, and you can’t get away from it. And you think that the golf course would be your escape, but it’s not.’’

Said Kenny Perry, whose mother and sister are fighting cancer: “If it was my wife, I don’t know how I could sit there and concentrate and play golf. My mind, my focus would be somewhere else, especially if I was in Phil’s shoes.

“He doesn’t need to prove anything to anybody. He’s one of the best we’ve got out here on tour, and Amy is one of the sweetest, always so light and bubbly and refreshing and she’s always pumping you up. She’s always that uplifting person.’’

Mickelson has said with the positive early test results, he and Amy didn’t want to disrupt their daily routine any more than it was already. So it meant flying home to San Diego from Memphis Sunday and having a birthday party Monday for their daughter, Amanda, who turns 10 Sunday. It meant celebrating his own birthday, No. 39, Tuesday, with their three children delivering breakfast in bed, then the family going out for another breakfast at one of Mickelson’s favorite places. And it meant flying across the country, going back to work and getting ready for the US Open.

It’s very clear Mickelson is comfortable with the state of his game, despite his lack of play or practice. He stopped at Bethpage on his way to Memphis, and said he was trying shots at the St. Jude Classic he knew he’d need this week, possibly one of the reasons he finished tied for 59th.

“I’ve actually been hitting the ball better than I have in a long time, possibly ever. I know it doesn’t seem like it after my score at Memphis,’’ Mickelson said. “But I’m really excited about how things have come along.

“The key for me will be the greens. I putted these greens very well in ’02, and if I have a good putting week, I expect to be in contention.’’

Originally, speculation centered on whether Mickelson would resume playing at all this season. Yesterday, he said he “most likely’’ will skip the British Open, which would end his streak of consecutive majors at 61, because of Amy’s surgery.

“We won’t know our treatment schedule after surgery until we have some other tests done,’’ Mickelson said. “I would say probably August would be the earliest.’’

When he talks about Amy’s fight, Mickelson always says “we’’ and “our,’’ making very clear the battle is being waged together. He’s been meeting with doctors, asking questions, spending 10-hour days at the hospital.

Mickelson said Amy gave him sunglasses and a camera for his birthday, a far cry from the dinosaur head she produced last year. In the spirit of giving, she sent him to New York with her own request, something that would cheer her up as they tackle one of life’s most difficult courses.

“She’s left me a number of little notes, texts, cards, and hints that she would like to have a silver trophy in her hospital room,’’ Mickelson said. “So I’m going to try to accommodate that.’’

Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com