Woods shows concern for Mickelson

They never have been thought to be friends, but Tiger Woods could not have sounded more genuine Tuesday in his concern for Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson stepped away from the PGA Tour in May to care for his wife, Amy, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Mickelson was expected to arrive Monday at Bethpage, but he instead spent extra time at home in California.

He is slated to meet the media today before a possible practice round.

“I couldn’t imagine dealing with what he has to on a daily basis,” Woods said. “Hats off to how he has handled it because it’s hard. You’re surrounded by people wishing you well, but they keep reminding you of the circumstance. . . . You’d think the golf course would be your escape, but it’s not.”

Woods recalled how he struggled to focus after the death of his father, Earl. A month after his mentor died, Woods missed the cut at the 2006 U.S. Open, shooting 76-76.

“Amy is such a sweetheart,” Woods said. “She’s so nice and generous to everyone she meets. And all the years that we’ve played table tennis, [wife] Elin and myself and Phil and Amy, those times are priceless.”

Trivia time

Can you name the world’s third-ranked golfer? Hint: It’s not Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Geoff Ogilvy or Charles Barkley.

“I’m surprised I’m No. 3 in the world,” Paul Casey said, “but that’s the way the system works. Who else in the world has won three times this year around the world?”

He has a point. Casey has triumphed at the Shell Houston Open, the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the BMW PGA Championship in England.

Get a grip

Garcia was heckled by spectators at the 2002 Open at Bethpage for his constant regripping and waggling of the club. At one point he responded with an obscene gesture.

In Garcia’s mind, that’s water under the (Queensboro) Bridge.

“New Yorkers are very passionate,” he said Tuesday. “I love the people around here. [The Open] in 2002 was a good experience.”

Asked about his temperament -- code for his habit of whining about course conditions -- Garcia replied, “As you get older, you learn from things you’ve done and try to mature. But I am the way I am. If I change too much, I wouldn’t be myself.”

Mission completed

Several pros predicted that Michael Jordan would not break 100 in the Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge, which was played Friday at Bethpage. Woods predicted Jordan wouldn’t break 92, but Jordan did that with ease, carding an 86.

“It goes to show you that all athletes and entertainers are used to performing in front of crowds,” Woods said.

NBC will air the highlights and lowlights in a 90-minute special Sunday.

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tgreenstein@tribune.com