Mickelson discusses Tiger, playing schedule, grooves

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The world's second-ranked player, Phil Mickelson, touched on several topics in his news conference Wednesday as he prepares to make his 2010 season debut in this week's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Three topics that he addressed in his opening remarks:

• TIGER WOODS: Mickelson said he did not want to comment on his competitor's domestic situation that has resulted in Tiger taking an indefinite leave of absence.

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But Mickelson was adamant that "golf needs him to come back. I mean, it's important for him to come back and be a part of the sport. But right now he's got a lot more important things going on in his life. (Wife) Amy and I are good friends with both Tiger and Elin and we care deeply about how this turns out.

• MICKELSON'S PLAYING SCHEDULE: Amy Mickelson and Mickelson's mother Mary both continue to make encouraging progress in their battles against breast cancer (both women were diagnosed last year).

"Amy and my mom are doing great," he said.

But due to a couple of procedures that were expected to take place during the offseason but were postponed, Mickelson is having to adjust his schedule to find time for his family. As a result, he said he will miss the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship next month in Tucson, Ariz. The only other time Mickelson has missed the Accenture Match Play was in 2001 when it was held at The Metropolitan Club in Australia.

"I think it's a wonderful tournament," said Mickelson, who has never won the event. "I love the Match Play. I love Tucson. But it was the best week for us to have a family vacation that we had to reschedule because ... of our procedures."

Mickelson expects his schedule may be adjusted other times this year, forcing him to miss tournaments in which he normally plays. But he said he'll likely add a tournament "to kind of offset it."

• GROOVES ISSUE: Mickelson said his bag will include a old Ping-Eye 2 wedge that remains legal to use despite the USGA's regulation requiring more of a V-shaped groove. John Daly and Dean Wilson are other players who found Ping wedges that were legal under an settlement with the USGA in 1990 about square grooves.

Mickelson said he consulted both the USGA and the PGA TOUR and that "the only thing that matters is are they approved for play. So I don't feel that there's any problem if I were to play those clubs or if anybody else were. All that matters is that it is OK under the rules of golf."

Mickelson played collegiately at Arizona State near the Ping headquarters and thus had "a bunch of sets." He said he took a 60-degree wedge and bent it to 64 degrees. He will maintain a Callaway 60-degree wedge in his bag.