Mickelson Will Play in Presidents Cup

ATLANTA -- Phil Mickelson wants to play golf.

He wants to play good golf.

That's not as much a "well, duh,'' as it might sound. Off the course Mickelson has a lot on his mind. Both wife, Amy, and mother, Mary, are battling breast cancer. Since the diagnoses were made within two weeks of each other in early summer, he took two lengthy breaks from the PGA Tour to be at home.

Most recently, after finishing second at the U.S. Open in June, Mickelson returned in early August and looked like he would rather have been back with the family in Southern California.

In five tournament appearances he did not finished better than 27th. In those five events, he was a combined 18-over par.

And then Mickelson came to this week's Tour Championship at East Lake GC and immediately shot an opening-day 3-over 73 with a snowman on the par-4 14th hole.

It was enough to raise the question: would he rather not even bother with the Presidents Cup in two weeks? U.S. captain Fred Couples had long ago offered Mickelson a pass, expressing complete support and understanding for any decision.

Mickelson will play.

Friday he explained why. He shot a second-round 3-under 67 to get back to even for the tournament. He made six birdies. Putted well. Even a finishing bogey on the 18th hole, after failing to get up and down from the right greenside bunker, didn't spoil the day.

"I think that I have been struggling with the putter for two years almost, with an occasional good week here or there," Mickelson said. "Now I feel like I've got the right track, the right direction that I want. I've been striking it great.''

Things began to change following a recent visit with Dave Stockton, the Champions Tour player known for turning putting into an art form. Stockton had come to Torrey Pine to attend an LPGA event, and Mickelson called to ask for some time.

They talked. They practiced.

"Dave Stockton putted a lot like I've always putted," Mickelson said. "It just reaffirmed the way I've always liked to putt since I was a kid. I've gone back to it and it just seems to feel much more natural, much more comfortable. I've been rolling the ball great and making a lot more putts.

"It's very minor. My hands are back ahead like I used to putt and the ball is just rolling much better.''

Now look what he's done.

"If I can get a hot round on Saturday, I'll have a chance on Sunday,'' he said.

At the very least, he can still have fun a Harding Park when the Presidents Cup goes to San Francisco Oct. 8-11.

"I think it will be a fun week," Mickelson said.