Mickelson to return to action at Firestone

Phil Mickelson will make his return to competitive golf next week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club.

The world number two has officially declared he will play in the tournament via the competition committee’s executive director Dom Padgett III. Padget revealed he is still awaiting confirmation from world number one, Tiger Woods.

Mickelson has been missing from the professional circuit for some considerable time, having taken a leave of absence from the game in order to help care for his wife, Amy, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Mickelson’s mother has more recently also been diagnosed with the disease and there were doubts surrounding the likelihood of Mickelson competing again in 2009.

Mickelson’s last competitive outing came in the US Open in June at New York’s Bethpage Black where he finished in a tie for second place with David Duval and Ricky Barnes. The major was won by Lucas Glover.

But while Mickelson elected to miss out on the Open Championship, his appearance at Firestone suggests he may take part in next month’s US PGA Championship, which will be staged at Hazeltine National.

Mickelson has previously won the WGC’s CA Championship in March this year and has also competed in each of the 10 previous Bridgestone Invitationals, where he has collected five top 10 finishes. His best finish came in 1999 when he tied for second in the inaugural event.