CARMEL, Ind. -- The man who has been most closely tied to Tiger Woods as a rival over the past two decades was thrilled to hear Wednesday that Woods is hoping to return to competitive golf next month.
Phil Mickelson wasn't aware of Woods' announcement until told during the BMW Championship pro-am at Crooked Stick Golf Club.
Woods announced Wednesday that he hopes to return at the Safeway Open in Napa, California, which is two weeks after the Ryder Cup. Mickelson is also playing the Safeway tournament, which is the first event of the PGA Tour's 2016-17 season. Additionally, Woods said he hopes to play a European Tour event in Turkey as well as the Hero World Challenge before the end of the year.
"I think it's great; I don't know the state of his health. I haven't seen him,'' Mickelson said. "I'm looking forward to spending time with him at the Ryder Cup. I think that'll be great motivation for him. Plus, he'll have a week off.
"I'm hoping we can get paired together (at the Safeway Open.) That would be really fun. I would love it. It's great to have him back, and hopefully he's physically able to practice the way he needs.''
Woods, 40, will be a vice captain for Davis Love III at Hazeltine National, site of the Ryder Cup where Mickelson, 46, will be a member of the U.S. team for the 11th consecutive time.
Mickelson feels the experience will be good for Woods and likened it to what Sergio Garcia did in 2010 when he didn't make the European team but was named a vice captain by Colin Montgomerie at a time when Garcia's game was in decline.
"Just like it did for Sergio years ago when he was a vice captain, it was kind of a motivating factor for him,'' Mickelson said. "Hopefully it'll be the same for Tiger when he comes back out.''
Mickelson, who finished second at The Open to Henrik Stenson in July, is ranked 13th in the world. All but nine of his 42 PGA Tour victories -- and each of his five major championships -- have come during the Woods era.
"We're always going to have high expectations because the guy is arguably one of the two greatest players in history, if not the greatest,'' said Mickelson of Woods, who has 79 PGA Tour titles, including 14 majors. "Our expectations of him will always be high. It doesn't mean given all the health issues and challenges that he's faced ... it doesn't mean that's fair.''