MICHIGAN, July 30- Phil Mickelson confirmed that he will take part in the season's fourth and final major championship.
Tiger Woods, who is tuning up for the PGA Championship by competing in this week’s Buick Open, said Mickelson’s participation in next month’s PGA Championship is a sign things are improving at home.
"Well, if he’s playing, things are going better," Woods said. "If things were not going well, then I don’t think he’d play. So it’s a positive sign to see him out here playing."
The three-time major champion Mickelson took two months off because his wife and mother are both battling breast cancer.
Mickelson skipped the British Open this year, halting the longest active streak of majors at 61.
Mickelson will tune-up for the PGA Championship by competing in next week’s Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
Jim Furyk said he was happy to have Mickelson back.
"Hopefully his wife is doing well, and I think the fact he’s coming out is a good sign that she is," Furyk said.
Mickelson has competed in a dozen tournaments in 2009, winning two.
If anyone on the tour knows what Mickelson is going through it is Buick defending champ Kenny Perry. Perry is unable to defend his title as he has returned home to Kentucky to be with his mother, who is suffering from cancer.
World number one Woods is in the field for the first time since 2006.
In 2006, Woods won his second Buick Open on the strength of four consecutive 66s. He is one of 10 former Buick Open champions in the field this week, comprising Furyk, Rocco Mediate, Brian Bateman, Tom Pernice, Justin Leonard, Brad Faxon, Billy Mayfair, Woody Austin and Scott Verplank.
