Just a Phil-in

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Phil Mickelson shot an 8-under 63 and took the first-round lead Thursday at …

Holy smokes. Is it official? Get me rewrite!

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Tiger Woods is back! Tiger Woods is back!

He wasn't even on the golf course, and yet he still upstaged Phil. Again. That is the power of Tiger Woods. Nuclear power.

Mickelson, a three-time major winner, played brilliantly Thursday at Riviera Country Club during the first round of the Northern Trust Open. It was big news, too. Headline news in the world of golf. For about, oh, 90 minutes.

That's how much time elapsed between Phil's final putt and the announcement that Tiger will play next week, ending his eight-month layoff.

"He's the man. He's the King. He's it,'' said Rocco Mediate, who played brave foil when we last saw Tiger in action, hobbling and grimacing on his way to a playoff victory at the U.S. Open on a knee that required immediate surgery and prompted the layoff.

There's no shame in being Mickelson. In fact, historically he's in good company.

Gene Kelly was the world's best dancer – as long as Fred Astaire was out with shin splints.

Tony Bennett crooned better than anyone on the planet – when laryngitis sidelined Frank Sinatra.

William Faulkner wrote rings around his contemporaries – at least when Ernest Hemmingway was laid up with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Phil is electric. Tiger is pyrotechnic. Phil is the doffed cap. Tiger is the pumped fist. Phil is a golf star. Tiger is a rock star.

Poor Phil. Not literally, of course. Mickelson is commuting this week from his home in the San Diego area on his Gulfstream jet. Of course, if Tiger made one call, he'd probably have use of Air Force One.

Phil has earned more than $50 million during his PGA career, leaving him more than $10 million ahead of the likes of Ernie Els, Davis Love III and Jim Furyk … and more than $30 million behind Tiger.

Matched in the final group at the 2007 Deutsche Bank Championship, Mickelson outdueled Woods and won the tournament. "Rivalry Renewed," blared a headline in Sports Illustrated.

Memo to Sports Illustrated: There is no real rivalry.

That duel that some golf aficionados called "thrilling'' changed nothing. Tiger remained No. 1 in the world rankings and No. 1 in the public's consciousness.

Oh, beneath the surface tension simmers. When paired at the Ryder Cup, Tiger and Phil tanked. Conventional wisdom: It's hard to team up with someone you don't like.

In December, Tiger's caddie, Steve Williams, said of Phil, "I don't particularly like the guy.''

That was William's explanation after he was asked about his comment from the day before, when he reportedly told The Guardian in England, "I wouldn't call Mickelson a great player, 'cause I hate the prick."

Tiger said he was disappointed that Williams made the remarks. But he didn't issue a fiery statement upbraiding his caddie and praising Phil. But that's no more than gossip for an interplay that keeps the golf world entertained. Especially when Tiger's not around, which happens to be when the snide remarks made news.

On the larger stage, the global stage, Phil Mickelson is a foil. Same as Mediate. Same for the world's other top golfers. They all aim for Tiger. Tiger aims for immortality.

Phil's three majors are impressive. Tiger's 14 put him four shy of Jack Nicklaus' 18, the most won by any golfer.

On Thursday, a photo of Phil led the PGA Tour's website. Until the instant Tiger's announcement became official. Suddenly down came the photo of Phil, replaced by a photo of you-know-who and a headline blaring "Tiger Returns.''

"Good, it's about time, we need him,'' Mediate said. "Our tour's really cool, but it's really, really cool with him. It's just a notch above, no disrespecting, but I've always believed that about him, he makes it what it is. We have some great players, Phillip and everybody, they're all fine, but without him it's not the same.''

And what about Mickelson's first-round 63, which was the big news in the golf world for about 90 minutes?

"Of course it's not going to mean anything,'' Mediate said. "Everyone's been waiting, waiting, waiting, and I will guarantee you he wins that tournament next week. Guaranteed.''

Here's another guarantee: No matter who wins the World Match Play tournament next week in Arizona, the world's attention will be focused squarely on Tiger.

Not Phil.

Yahoo! Sports editor Lisa Antonucci contributed to this report.