Mickelson says PGA Tour needs Woods

"Golf needs him to come back," Mickelson said. "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."

Woods has not been seen in public since the Thanksgiving weekend, when an auto accident in which he was involved touched off a series of revelations that caused him to admit marital infidelity. Woods later said he was taking a leave of absence from the sport while trying to sort out his private life.

Mickelson has not played on the PGA Tour since capturing last year's Tour Championship. He enters the Farmers Insurance Open as the world's second-ranked player behind Woods.

The tournament, played at Torrey Pines, is the tour's fourth of the season. The first three events were won by Geoff Ogilvy, Ryan Palmer and Bill Haas.

In Thursday's first round, Mickelson will play in the company of Palmer and Marc Turnesa on the Torrey Pines South Course.

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