Arthritis took its toll on Mickelson

Phil Mickelson turned 40 the day before the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. With another green jacket in hand and his game in command, he was looking forward to erasing his most glaring career blemish on one of his favorite courses.

He experienced the sudden onset of psoriatic arthritis in the weeks before the championship, as if the U.S. Open hadn't thrown him enough cruel twists with his five career runner-up finishes.

Just when his wife's cancer recovery was on the upswing, Mickelson now had his own health scare to contend with involving the joints that are key to his livelihood.

"We always expected to grow old together, just not at 38 and 40," Amy said.

During the summer, the predominant story line involving Mickelson was his repeated failure to take over the world No. 1 ranking for the first time. In spite of the relentless criticism, Mickelson kept his health issues to himself until August, when he had his condition under control.

"It was a lot more serious than people know," said Steve Loy, his manager. "It could have been a lot more threatening to his career and his normal health than people know. We're very blessed to have the best medical supervision and treatment available. It's 100 percent better, but he was not Phil Mickelson from three weeks before U.S. Open until just before the Ryder Cup."

Psoriatic arthritis can manifest itself in many ways, inflaming the joints in the hands, feet, ankles, knees and back -- critical areas for a golfer. Symptoms are typically worse in the morning and can be debilitating.

In March, Mickelson launched "On Course with Phil" to help those with chronic inflammatory joint and skin conditions.

Neither Mickelson nor those close to him will talk on the record about how significant his symptoms were or what specific impact it had on his performance.

Mickelson focuses on the positives of getting the proper course of treatment quickly before suffering any permanent damage.

While the arthritis will never go away, Mickelson is optimistic that the chronic ailment won't derail his career.

"Right now I feel like I'm not being inhibited in my ability to practice, to work out or perform," he said. "My goal this year in 2011 is to have the year I expected 2010 to be. With the exception of the Masters, it wasn't the year I had hoped for."

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 orscott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.