The real truth about Phil Mickelson? … He’s a good guy

Reporting from Augusta, Ga. — 

This new Tiger Woods, the one who now signs autographs, nods to fans and on Tuesday responded to a woman’s shout of “We love you, Tiger!” near the 18th green by saying, “Thank you, ma’am” … well, that good nature has defined Phil Mickelson since the day Lefty turned pro.

And, yet, Mickelson gets a bad rap in the clubhouse. Among his peers, he’s considered as genuine as AstroTurf.

“I remember when I came on tour, guys told me he’s a phony or a fake or whatever,” Hunter Mahan said. “Then I met him, and he’s not phony, he’s just kind of goofy. I’ve never seen any kind of fake side to him. And I’ve never seen him be rude to any person.”

Mahan played a practice round with Mickelson on Tuesday and gushed, “People just like being around him. He’s nice. He signs autographs, does the things you’re supposed to do. He’s just an endearing figure.”

He also has become a sympathetic one, not that Mickelson wants your pity.

But how could you not feel for a guy whose wife and mother received diagnoses of breast cancer — both within a seven-week span?

Wife Amy got the harsh news last May, a month after Mickelson tied the Masters record with a front-nine 30 on Sunday, only to lose his tee shot on No. 12 into Rae’s Creek. He turned in a final-round 67 for a nine-under total three shots behind champion Angel Cabrera.

Mickelson returned in time for the U.S. Open at Bethpage, and he took a lead at four-under after a Sunday eagle on the 13th hole. But two bogeys down the stretch left him in a tie for second — earning the miserable distinction of a record-setting fifth runner-up finish.

Mickelson rallied to win the season-ending Tour Championship but has done nothing of note this season, unless you count hitting a shot right-handed out of a hazard last Friday at the Shell Houston Open. Stuck in a bush, he flipped his club and tried to punch out. Two balls popped out, with Mickelson’s ricocheting off his leg for a two-shot penalty and eventual triple bogey.

“My performance has not been what I wanted,” Mickelson said. “I’ve had three or four penalty shots almost every round, it seems.”

But …

“I have performed well here in the past [after] a poor performance the week before,” he said. “There’s something that relaxes me about this golf course. I don’t feel like I have to be perfect as long as I can control my misses and let my short game save me strokes.”

Last year Mickelson missed the cut in Houston before surging into contention at Augusta National.

Mickelson and Woods had lunch together that Sunday. Both men stood seven shots behind leaders Cabrera and Kenny Perry but were just cocky — or crazy — enough to believe they had a chance to win.

“We made a few jokes and laughed and giggled a little bit,” Mickelson recalled. “I just felt like we were going to get out and make some noise, and we both did.”

Since winning here in 2006, Mickelson has not won a major. He’s 0 for 14. He’d get a boost if Amy could make it to town, but Mickelson said she’s a maybe.

“Things look good [for her] long-term,” he said. “But day-to-day has been difficult, and the medicines and so forth have been challenging. The quality of life … we are trying to make it better.”

Without Amy, Mickelson will try to draw strength from the patrons. After years of treating fans the right way, there’s no question they will reciprocate.

“At times, I have felt energy from the crowd,” Mickelson said, “and it has certainly helped me through some loose swings I’ve had. I’ve been appreciative of that.”

tgreenstein@tribune.com