News

Is there such a thing as too much pink?

May 27, 2009

The outpouring of support for Amy Mickelson -- which has manifested itself in everything from heartfelt tributes from writers to John Daly and Rory Sabbatini both displaying pink last Sunday -- is expected to continue this Saturday at the Colonial.

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That's when the PGA Tour Wives Association is asking all players and wives to wear pink in another display of solidarity with one of golf's most popular spouses. Which is great. Just as the news of Amy's diagnosis has hit the golf world hard, it's at least helped raise awareness of a disease that too many people still don't know enough about.

But it's also raised an uncomfortable question about why there isn't a similar response when the disease strikes a less visible figure. Is breast cancer any more tragic when it hits the wife of the No. 2 player in the world as opposed to, say, the wife of Darren Clarke? Or Heather Farr?

Of course not. But while that may be a byproduct of our celebrity culture, the important part to remember is the end result. The Mickelsons certainly aren't asking for any more sympathy than other breast cancer families, but given their altruistic nature, they are likely relishing the opportunity to make a difference.

Just as Magic Johnson helped open the world's eyes to the reach of HIV, or the actor Michael J. Fox has become the face of Parkinson's Disease, Amy Mickelson, however indirectly, has helped drive home the point that breast cancer does not discriminate.

And for proof, I offer my own humble example: when the news of Amy's diagnosis first broke last Wednesday, my first couple of calls were to other writers and editors here at Golf Digest to see how we wanted to proceed. But my next call was to my wife, to make sure she was planning on getting checked out.

-- Sam Weinman

(Photo credit: Warren Little/Getty Images)