SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Three-times champion Phil Mickelson will make his first appearance on the 2010 PGA Tour when he heads the field at next week's San Diego Open at Torrey Pines.
The American world number two, who lives in nearby Rancho Santa Fe, was the leading player set to compete in the fourth tournament of the season when the draw was finalized Friday.
A notable absentee was top-ranked Tiger Woods, a six-times winner of the event who usually launches his Tour campaign at Torrey Pines, one of his favorite venues.
Woods is taking an indefinite break from the game and has given no timetable for his likely return to competition.
The 14-times major champion, who won his most recent grand slam title in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, has been in hiding since admitting last month he had cheated on his wife.
Other notable players in next week's field include three-times major winner Ernie Els, U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover and fan favorite John Daly, who won the most recent of his five PGA Tour titles at Torrey Pines in 2004.
The San Diego Open, sponsored this year for the first time by the Farmers Insurance Group after the event lost the backing of Buick in August, takes place from January 28-31.
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
