Mickelson set for emotional return

Phil Mickelson will appreciate the chance to divert thoughts from his wife's battle with cancer when he gets the St Jude Classic under way tomorrow.

The three-time major champion will return to competitive golf when he tees off in Memphis at TPC Southwind for the first time since his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer last month.

Twice a winner on the PGA Tour already this year, the left-hander has not played since the final round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on May 10 when he finished tied for 55th.

Mickelson, 39 next Tuesday, revealed he and his wife had been overwhelmed by the comfort and support they had received - including a 'Pink Out' day at the HP Byron Nelson Championship in mid-May when players, caddies, fans and officials wore the colour that symbolises breast cancer awareness during the third round at Colonial.

Speaking during a press conference at TPC Southwind tonight, Mickelson said: 'Amy and I thought that a couple weeks ago at the Colonial was one of the nicest things that we've ever seen.

'It came at an incredible time for us. We're very lucky to be a part of this group of Tour players.

'The show of support they gave us at Colonial, all the people at Colonial, Fort Worth, it was incredibly meaningful. I don't know how to express the emotions that we felt because of that. It was just a very special thing for us.'

The world number two said he was hoping to separate his golf from thoughts of his wife's illness over four rounds in Memphis.

'It is difficult to separate things at times,' Mickelson said. 'But these last three weeks have been...

'An interesting thing is I've never felt this emotional. I've never been this emotional, where if I'm driving alone or what have you I'll just start crying. It's kind of a weird thing.

'I'm looking forward to having a four or five-hour mental break where I force myself to focus on something else. I'm looking forward to that.'

On his 37-year-old wife's cancer, Mickelson added: 'Obviously we're going through a tough time right now. We won't get started on our treatment until July 1.

'In the meantime, we're fortunate we believe we caught it early enough where we don't have to rush into decisions and we can make some good long-term decisions - decisions that will hopefully prevent this from reoccurring, as well as decisions that will hopefully beat this quickly. We're getting ready to get started.

'In the meantime, I'm going to play these two weeks. She's going to have a nice time here this week. My parents are taking the kids camping and she's going to have a little bit of time with a couple of her close friends and family.'

Mickelson insisted he intends to be competitive in both Memphis and next week at Bethpage Black in New York when the US Open gets under way.

'I don't feel as though my game is that far off. But certainly I haven't played in a while,' he admitted.

'Certainly I had an emotional month, and I don't know where I will be on the golf course as far as being able to focus or being able to get another round. I don't know that yet.

'As far as the physical element of hitting a golf ball, chipping and putting, I don't think it's very far off, if off at all.

'I'm not playing just to play. I think Bethpage is a golf course that suits my game, that I love playing on that course, I love playing in the New York area.

'I'm playing here because I believe I can win next week. Again, there's a lot of question marks that I'll have. But that's the goal.'

Mickelson claimed his return to golf was a decision he had taken with wife Amy in order to get back into a normal routine, and revealed part of that process involved him playing Bethpage Black earlier this week.

'I decided to play Bethpage. I got lucky with the weather. It rained early on, it cleared up. So I was able to get a good session in there,' he said.

'In 2002, Bethpage, it was an emotional experience for me then. I anticipate it being an emotional experience playing this year's US Open.

'My quest is to win my first US Open after four seconds, numerous close calls, me caring about this tournament so much.

'But right now I'm just fortunate that I'm going to be able to play and I hope to play well. I know that after that, I've got something going on that's more important and takes my mind off it.'

Mickelson has been grouped with Ireland's Padraig Harrington and fellow American Cameron Beckman for an early start for round one at 1.27pm Irish time.

Players champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden is in another high-profile group alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Sergio Garcia and Valhalla rival Boo Weekley, teeing off at 5.36pm Irish time.

John Daly makes his first PGA Tour start since serving a six-month suspension following a string of controversial incidents on and off the course with a 6.54pm Irish time tee time.