Mickelson the favourite at Tiger-less Torrey Pines

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SAN DIEGO: World number two and local favourite Phil Mickelson heads the field at this week’s San Diego Open at Torrey Pines where top-ranked Tiger Woods is a conspicuous absentee.While left-hander Mickelson will launch his 2010 PGA Tour campaign at a venue where he has triumphed on three occasions, six-time winner Woods remains in hiding after admitting last month he had cheated on his wife.

Publicly embarrassed by tawdry revelations about his private life, Woods has given no timetable for his likely return to competition as he works on salvaging his marriage.

Although Torrey Pines is one of his favourite hunting grounds worldwide and was the scene of his remarkable play-off victory at the 2008 US Open, Woods will skip the San Diego event that has become his traditional season opener.

“It’s tough not having him here,” American Brandt Snedeker told reporters before playing a practice round on Tuesday.

“We all miss him because we all want to play against him and we want to beat him. That’s why we all miss him. We don’t do it very often, so when we do it, it’s kind of special.

“He’s got stuff to deal with and we’ll welcome him back with open arms when he comes back,” said Snedeker, who finished third behind Woods at Torrey Pines in 2007.

PGA Tour veteran Rocco Mediate, who lost to Woods in a thrilling 19-hole play-off for the 2008 US Open, agreed.

“Any time he’s not in the field, it’s obviously not the best field we have,” the 47-year-old American said. “You always want your best guy.

“Everybody wants to win when Tiger is in the field. If you don’t, you need to find a new job because you don’t belong here.”

Mediate felt Mickelson, who lives in nearby Rancho Santa Fe, would much prefer to have Woods in this week’s field. “Phil doesn’t need a lot of push,” Mediate said.

“But if he wins five of the first six events and Tiger is not in the field, is it better to win five of the first six when Tiger is in the field? He (Mickelson) needs him in that field.”

Woods also missed out on Torrey Pines last year while recovering from reconstructive knee surgery and American Nick Watney took full advantage by winning his second PGA Tour title.

Ice-cool on a glorious day of bright sunshine, Watney birdied three of the last six holes on the picturesque South Course to edge out compatriot John Rollins by a shot.

“It’s great to be back,” Watney said of his title defence on a cool, overcast afternoon at Torrey Pines. “I definitely have a lot of good vibes coming back here.

“This is the second time I’ve come back to a golf course where I’ve won before and it’s nice to just remember shots and situations,” added Watney, who won his maiden PGA Tour title at the 2007 New Orleans Classic. “It’s a special thing.”

Apart from second-ranked Mickelson, world number 15 Robert Allenby of Australia and 20th-ranked Ernie Els of South Africa are the only other members of the top 20 competing this week.

Other leading players at Torrey Pines include US Open champion Lucas Glover and Britain’s Luke Donald, twice a runner-up at the event. — Reuters