One day after Tiger Woods visited Bethpage Black, the site of next week's U.S. Open, Phil Mickelson caused a stir when he also dropped in on the public course Tuesday.

Mickelson, who has taken a leave of absence from the Tour since announcing last month that his wife, Amy, has breast cancer, will return to competition at this week's St. Jude Championship in Memphis. He is scheduled to give a press conference there around noon Wednesday, leaving little time to tour New York's famous Black course, which was last in the spotlight as host of the 2002 U.S. Open, won by Woods. (Mickelson finished second.)

Despite around two hours of rain Tuesday morning, and a throng of fans who caught wind of the visit and began to follow Mickelson en masse, the popular left-hander looked like he was going to get in 18, according to T.R. Reinman, Mickelson's spokesman.

Mickelson was joined by his caddie, Jim (Bones) MacKay, and short-game coach Dave Pelz.