Phil Mickelson’s Wife Amy Recalls the Dramatic Incident of the Birth of their First Child During the 1999 U.S. Open

In his career, the six-time major championship winner, Phil Mickelson, has never won the U.S. Open. This is the only major championship holding him back from completing a career slam. However, Phil and his wife, Amy, have some incredible memories from one edition of this event.

It was 1999 when the left-handed golfer and his wife were expecting their first child. The couple had already decided that they would name the baby girl Amanda. Meanwhile, Amanda was due precisely at the time of the U.S. Open. And golf was Mickelson’s priority, as he had not won a major championship yet. However, at the same time, he wanted to be with his wife while they had their baby.

Phil Mickelson’s wife reveals the enigma they had during the 1999 U.S. Open

Phil Mickelson, who had won 13 PGA Tour titles by 1999, was aiming for a major championship victory. And there was no better occasion than the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. But his wife’s due date was around the same time, so it was difficult for Phil to decide whether to compete or stay back.

So the couple consulted a doctor, who advised that Amy should not be traveling and that she should be on bed rest. Hence, Mickelson chartered a plane that was ready all week so the golfer could fly home if Amy went into labor. The golfer’s caddie had carried a beeper, and Amy had strict instructions to call if she went into labor.

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On the Tuesday of the U.S. Open week, the doctor gave the green signal for Phil to compete. He also advised Amy to stay with her mother. Therefore, while leaving, Mickelson told his wife that he would bring the U.S. Open trophy home and then have the baby. “It’s going to be the best time of our lives.”

However, when Amy returned to the doctor the next day, he was not as confident as he had been the day before. “If you had looked like this yesterday, I would have probably told Phil not to go,” Amy recalls. Hence, this made her emotional, and she burst into tears. However, she revealed nothing to the golfer.

Did Phil Mickelson miss the birth of his first child?

Phil Mickelson had an incredible start to the 1999 U.S. Open. He was one stroke behind the leader, Payne Stewart, after Saturday. However, that night, Amy had contractions. It was close and painful, revealed Amy. Therefore, her brother and mother took her to the hospital. They gave her some medicine to slow down the contractions.

She did not understand whether to call her husband and inform him of the situation on the eve of a career-defining moment. However, the medicine helped, and she went home on Sunday morning. However, as she lay on the couch and saw the final round of the U.S. Open, she burst into tears.

Mickelson narrowly missed the opportunity to win a major championship. “It was very, very emotional watching it,” said Amy. “Payne makes this bug putt at the end, and it was kind of surreal. It never occurred to me that Phil wasn’t going to win. So that was hard.“

Meanwhile, immediately after the final round, Mickelson flew back home to his wife. The next day, Amy had contractions as the doctor informed her that the baby would arrive at any time. Therefore, following all the drama, Amanda was born at around 6 p.m. on Monday.

“That moment of her coming, that moment when we have birth, Phil was there. He was the one pulling her out and cutting the cord,” revealed Amy Mickelson. Hence, the Mickelson couple had their first child in a way that they will remember for ages.

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