Mickelson puts tournament schedule on

hold with news his wife has breast cancer

Phil Mickelson has indefinitely suspended his US PGA Tour schedule after his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mickelson was due to play at the Byron Nelson Championship, starting tomorrow and defend his title at Colonial next week, but has withdrawn to be alongside his wife, Amy, who faces "major surgery, possibly within the next two weeks", according to a report on the official US PGA Tour website.
The Mickelsons married in 1996 and have three children.
The news came as Mickelson was starting his countdown to next month's US Open at Bethpage Black, the New York course where he was runner-up to Tiger Woods in 2002 and where he was a real fan favourite.
It remains to be seen if his wife's health will allow him to take part in the championship.
Woods sent a message that he and his Swedish wife Elin "are deeply saddened to hear the news about Amy. Our thoughts and prayers are with her, Phil, the children and the entire Mickelson family".
On the European Tour there are regular breast cancer charity events in memory of Darren Clarke's wife Heather, who died just before the 2006 Ryder Cup.
Only last Friday at the Irish Open players were requested to wear an item of pink clothing to help raise awareness and Clarke's former caddie Billy Foster is walking from Loch Lomond to Turnberry in July to raise funds.
Mickelson was fifth at The Masters in April after a brilliant last-day charge in which he and playing partner Woods both moved from seven behind to one behind before slipping up late on.
He was also close to toppling his great rival from the world number one spot, a position he has never held in his career.