Phil Mickelson steps into the void

Phil Mickelson walks with big, long steps, meaning the eager golf fans, the ones waving scorecards and visors to be autographed, have to jog along to keep up.

It’s worthwhile exercise. Mickelson was in a signing mood Wednesday at Torrey Pines. For this Tiger Woods-less moment anyway, Mickelson is golf’s biggest attraction. Today he begins his 19th season on the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open on the course he considers home.

He spoke of personal issues, of Tiger issues, of club issues, of the state of his golf, his physique, his outlook on life, as easily as if every media member was a good buddy. He joked with fans, hugged children, was everything a goodwill ambassador needs to be.

Golf certainly needs a goodwill ambassador. The tournament here traditionally has been the one where Woods begins the season. Not this year.

Mickelson is one of only five golfers in the world’s top 30 in the field, but on Wednesday his blithe spirit brought cheer to the sport for the first time since Woods’ car accident Nov. 27.

The 39-year-old Mickelson is ranked No. 2 in the world behind Woods, has 37 career PGA Tour victories, including three in 2009. But last year was also a season in which his wife and mother were diagnosed with breast cancer, prompting him to take a short break.

On Wednesday, however, it was full speed ahead. In a matter of a minute, Mickelson offered that he and his wife, Amy, are “good friends” of Tiger and Elin Woods and, therefore, Mickelson would prefer not to speak of Tiger or of Tiger’s infidelities; that Amy and his mother, Mary, are doing as well as can be expected; that he is able to cinch his belt a little tighter because of intense off-season training, and that, yes, he expects to have a great golf season.

And then Mickelson took questions.

But first he said this about Woods: “The game of golf needs him to come back. I’m going to choose not to talk publicly about it anymore. I appreciate your understanding on that.”

With Woods away, Mickelson is the only major star power on offer during the West Coast swing of the PGA Tour. The Golf Channel is promoting its next few weeks of coverage as “Five weeks of Phil.”

This event isn’t bereft of well-known golfers. John Daly is here. But it’s hard to figure Daly will make the cut, so he’s a for-sure draw only today and Friday. Two-time U.S. Open champion Ernie Els and last year’s Masters runner-up Chad Campbell are in the field.

Rocco Mediate, who so famously and emotionally lost to Woods here at the 2008 U.S. Open, is on hand.

But other Americans ranked in the top 20 -- Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Kenny Perry, Sean O’Hair and Stewart Cink? Not here.

Defending champion Nick Watney said that he understands how Mickelson will be the focus of this tournament, and how a needy sport might seem to be clinging to the veteran star.

“I think he has shown that he is clear-and-away the second-best golfer in the world,” Watney said. “While some people may feel that while Tiger is not playing, Phil needs to step up, all he can do is control himself. I’m sure he puts a lot of pressure on himself regardless of the situation. He has enough expectations as it is.”

Mickelson’s well-considered attempt to keep away Tiger interrogation didn’t work, of course.

He was asked if he had tried to contact Woods.

“We’ve had limited communication with the Woodses,” Mickelson said. “And again, I just feel like discussing any of that is just not appropriate.”

The follow-up question came. “But you have had contact with him?”

“With the family, not necessarily saying with whom in the family,” replied Mickelson

The exchange wasn’t mean-spirited. Mickelson smiled and nodded.

Though Mickelson grew up in San Diego and played this course too many times to count, he hasn’t won a tournament here for nine years. He pointed to changes made to lengthen the course for its appearance in the U.S. Open rotation in 2008.

“The course changes . . . affected the way I’ve played here,” he said. “I knew the greens inside and out, having grown up here. I’m starting to understand this course a lot better again.

“The reads of the greens are totally different. They don’t break toward the ocean, they break away from the bunkers and as I’m starting to see the nuances, I’m expecting to play better.”

Mickelson finished 2009 playing some of his best golf. He won the Tour Championship and the World Golf Champions event in China, beating Woods, among others, both times.

He has also been working with former U.S. Ryder Cup captain Dave Stockton. Stockton, twice winner of the PGA Championship, gave Mickelson putting help.

But the questions about Woods? Let’s try again.

“Have you sensed that golf is looking to you to fill a void?”

Mickelson answered this, knowing that the void has been left by Woods.

“I haven’t thought about it like that,” he said. “I’m just excited to play golf. I haven’t really looked at it from that point of view, but nobody will be able to . . . fill the shoes that are voided right now.”

With a win or two in the next few weeks -- here, at the Northern Trust Open, at the AT&T Open at Pebble Beach -- the voided shoes might be kicked to the corner.

diane.pucin@latimes.com

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