IT WAS called the People's Open back in 2002, when the United States Golf Association flag first flew above the sprawling municipal golf course that is Bethpage Black.

And it was that, a raucous and rollicking post-9/11 celebration of golf, by and for the people of New York.

The best players played their best on a big stage in front of thousands of fans. It also had two winners. Tiger Woods shot 277 and won the Open. Phil Mickelson shot 280 and won New York.

As the People's Open, Act II, began with tee shots off the first and 10th tees yesterday at the longer, stronger Bethpage Black, Woods and Mickelson are centrestage once again, No. 1 and No. 2 in the world rankings.

For all that has changed, on the golf course and in the lives of the world's top two golfers, one thing has not: Woods is favoured and Mickelson is the crowd favourite.

Mickelson came to New York alone, carrying with him the heavy burden of his wife Amy's battle with breast cancer and impending surgery.

Rousing receptions

And he was greeted by rousing receptions from fans who lined every one of the 18 holes at Bethpage Black, yelling his name, hollering encouragement, making him feel as though he had never left.

'Hey Phil,' bellowed a man from atop the ridge lining the left side of the fifth hole, 'welcome home.'

The line inspired loud cheers and applause from the gallery, like the three cheers that rang out almost every step of the way, all day.

And Mickelson smiled broadly throughout, seeming to draw energy from every new group of people that crowded each tee, fairway and putting green.

Earlier in the day Mickelson had sat for a news conference, discussing many what-ifs - including the likelihood that he will not play in the British Open next month two weeks after his wife's scheduled surgery - and talking about how grateful he was for the outpouring of support shown by fans, friends and media.

'It's been overwhelming,' he said, prompting a question about whether a prolonged period of well-wishing might have the unintended consequence of distracting him from concentrating on his job.

Told that Woods had expressed the opinion that it might, Mickelson thought for a moment.

'Possibly,' he said. 'Or it could be that that support helps carry me through emotionally when I'm on the course. I'm certainly hoping for that.'

That is what it seemed to do on Wednesday. Incongruous as it is, everyday New Yorkers have embraced the California golfer who would seem to have everything they do not - his own Gulfstream jet, multiple millions in the bank, a year-long suntan and a world-class golf game.

Ask Mickelson why, and he cannot explain it.

Ask Rich Wagner, a marshal at the fifth hole who watched the Mickelson lovefest begin from this spot back in 2002, and he has an answer.

'We've adopted Phil because he is always willing to shake a hand, he's got a smile on his face and he engages people,' Wagner said.

'It's just the fact that he greets people, looks them in the eye.

It's like going back to Arnold Palmer, when Arnold Palmer became Arnold Palmer.'

AP