Phil Mickelson Set Precedent in Hunter Mahan Withdrawal at RBC Canadian Open

Hunter Mahan was leading the RBC Canadian Open by two shots after 36 holes when he learned of his wife’s onset of labor. He immediately packed up his equipment, jumped in a jet and headed home to be with his wife. 

Hunter Mahan married former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and Dallas Mavericks dancer Kandi Harris in 2011. This will be the Mahans' first child, and he did not want to miss the delivery.

Mahan has five career PGA Tour wins, including two WGC victories. He joined the tour in 2003 after a very successful amateur career and has earned over $24 million. He is having another strong year in 2013 with four top-10 finishes, and he is No. 14 in the FedEx Cup and No. 22 on the world golf rankings.

Phil Mickelson set the standard for professional golfers being involved in family affairs.

In the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, Mickelson was among the leaders when his wife, Amy, was close to delivery of their first child at home. He told the assembled media that if his wife started labor, he would leave the tournament and head home to be by his wife’s side.

He was in the final group on Sunday and paired with the eventual winner, Payne Stewart. The call to fly home never came, and the Mickelsons' oldest child was born the next day.

Prior to this, a contender in a PGA Tour event never considered leaving a tournament, especially when he was near the lead. Babies are born every day, and fathers were considered bystanders.

The Mickelsons also experienced a cancer scare with both Amy Mickelson and Phil’s mother. He again took a leave of absence from the tour and spent time with his family. 

Most recently, Mickelson flew home to Southern California from Philadelphia two days prior to the start of the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club to attend the elementary school graduation of one his children.

He had his whole family with him in Europe when he won the Scottish Open and the Open Championship.

Mickelson made it OK for tour players to leave their egos in the locker room and put family first.

Just another big win for “Phil the Thrill.”