It’s just Phil being Phil

Phil Mickelson wasted no time firing up fans with birdies on the opening two holes. Then came a sliced tee shot into the water and a nearly four-putt green. He birdied two of the last three holes.

A typical round for one of golf’s most unpredictable stars.

Returning to work for the first time since disclosing last month that his wife has breast cancer, Mickelson got off to a solid start Thursday in the St. Jude Classic with a two-under-par 68 that left him four shots behind leader Brian Gay. He wore a pink ribbon stitched into the side of his white cap and at times looked fatigued.

Under heavy clouds that brought brief showers midway through his round, Mickelson was easy to spot because of the some 750 fans following him -- one man dressed all in pink.

Mickelson, however, was not the only one making a comeback. John Daly played his first PGA Tour event since serving a six-month suspension for off-course activities that brought the game so many unwanted headlines and photos. He was one under on the front nine, but three over on the back for a 72.

Mickelson openly shared his emotions and fears before the tournament. He was more guarded after his round Thursday, sticking mainly to his golf and the tropical vacation after the U.S. Open a week before Amy has surgery and begins treatment.

“It wasn’t a great round, but it was a good start,” Mickelson said. “It was fun to play a little bit.”

He played with three-time major winner Padraig Harrington and Cameron Beckman. They chatted between shots, although his talk with Harrington before the round might have meant the most.

Harrington won his first two PGA Tour events in 2005 while his father battled cancer. He missed the British Open that summer at St. Andrews when his father died.

“I know when my dad had cancer, the easiest time was on the golf course because you don’t have to answer any questions,” Harrington said. “You don’t have to explain yourself on the golf course. You’ve got to remember -- we’re quite proficient at dealing with that little white golf ball, not quite as good about explaining our emotions.”