NAPA, Calif. -- Phil Mickelson rarely has sounded so excited to start a new PGA Tour season, even with the old season ending just three weeks ago.Then again, he doesnt have a lot of experience winning the Ryder Cup.Still gushing over the U.S. victory two weeks ago at Hazeltine, Mickelson gets one last chance to win something for himself at the Safeway Open. Its the first event in the 2016-17 season. Its also the last event of the year for the 46-year-old Mickelson.Im still on an emotional high, and even though Ive been running around this last week, my energy level is up and Im optimistic about having a good week, Mickelson said. I love the golf course and the feel. Its in California and Im excited to play.The excitement was tempered earlier in the week when Tiger Woods withdrew.Woods had said a month ago he planned to play at Silverado and officially entered the tournament on Friday. The tour decided to put Woods and Mickelson in the same group, along with defending champion Emiliano Grillo, for the opening two rounds.And then Woods said his game was vulnerable and not where it needed to be for him to return to the PGA Tour for the first time in 14 months. Mickelson and Woods had not played together since the opening round of the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla. Woods was replaced in the group by Bill Haas.Mickelson said he has texted Woods a few times, though he understands the decision.We all want Tiger to come back, but we want him to come back when hes ready, Mickelson said. If he doesnt feel like hes ready, then he should wait. Well all wait in anticipation and were excited, but I understand theres a lot of pressure not just to come back but to perform when he does come back. So you want to make sure that your game is right because look at how much scrutiny hes going to be under.Mickelson playing is rare occurrence, too.This is the first time he has played a domestic PGA Tour event in the fall since the FedEx Cup began in 2007, which moved the Tour Championship from the last week in October to the end of September. Mickelson also was on the task force that chose not to award Ryder Cup points to this tournament or the others in the fall, arguing that it would give the bottom half of the tour a head start in the standings.Safeway is in its first year as the title sponsor, and Mickelsons management company runs the tournament.Mickelson is among only four of the top 25 in the world ranking at Silverado, joining Paul Casey, Matt Kuchar and Grillo. The star power Wednesday came in the pro-am, where Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry played with Harold Varner III, who also was raised in North Carolina. Curry was supposed to play with Woods.I wouldnt call it disappointment because obviously thats a huge opportunity just to begin with, Curry said. Well be happy to have him back whenever that time is. Its unfortunate that hes not here, but Ill be watching whatever tournament he does come back.Mickelson had one of his best years without winning. He finished No. 12 on the money list and went over $4 million for the first time since 2013, the year of his most recent victory at the British Open. He ended last year at No. 34 in the world and now is up to No. 15.He even challenged to win the Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted scoring average until falling too far back over the last three tournaments of the season.But hes still lacking a victory.The Ryder Cup helped to feel that void, mainly because of how much Mickelson had invested in it. He was the catalyst for change when he publicly challenged the captaincy of Tom Watson in 2014, which led to the task force and significant changes to the U.S. model. Lefty backed it up on the golf course, going 2-1-1 for the week and finishing with a 10-birdie round that earned a half-point against Sergio Garcia.Mickelson raved about the performance of the entire U.S. team, and had to be reminded that he performed better than anyone on the final day.I played some of my best golf, too, because when you feel that kind of support and you play for a bigger purpose, it brings out some of your best golf, Mickelson said. I was certainly a beneficiary of it, as well.Now hes back on his own, though it was clear the Ryder Cup was enough to carry him into the offseason. Nike Sb Canada Outlet . PAUL, Minn. Wholesale Sb Canada . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. http://www.wholesalenikesbcanada.com/ . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Nike Sb Shoes Canada . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Nike Sb Shoes Sale Canada . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. NEW YORK -- Four of the Final Five gymnastics greats from the Rio Olympics wished ailing teammate Gabby Douglas well and got hugs from best female video winner Beyonce on Sunday night at the MTV Video Music Awards.Simone Biles, in a girly red mini dress, had an attack of the giggles as she shared the stage with Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian.The fifth member of our team, Gabby Douglas, is having medical issues and unfortunately couldnt make it tonight, Biles said. Feel better Gabby!Douglas was in a hospital for treatment of a mouth infection from a previous injury, said her publicist, Lesley Burbridge.The four took turns introducing Beyonce and her contenders for the award. Kocian said, Together with our teammate Gabby we accomplished something bigger than ourselves.Between them, the five won nine medals, breaking the record of eight won by the 1984 and 2008 USA womens gymnastics teams.ddddddddddddThe team picked a nickname in keeping with an Olympic gymnastics tradition started at the 1996 games in Atlanta.The meaning behind the Final Five: Starting with the Tokyo Games in 2020, women gymnastics squads reportedly will only be allowed four members, plus Rio was the last turn for Marta Karolyi, the national team coordinator for USA Gymnastics since 2001.The Rio crew is the fifth team Karolyi has led to victory since 2001.The five women nominated for best female video worked hard to be on top of their games, Raisman said from the VMA stage. Theyre role models for us as we hope to be to a younger generation of women. ' ' '