Phil Mickelson traded golf's celebrity spotlight for a spot on reality's front lines during the past six weeks, and he learned a lot -- mostly about life, friendships, empathy and genuine gratitude. As he prepared to step back inside the ropes for the first time since tying for second at the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, an upbeat Mickelson on Wednesday delivered positive reports on the battles against cancer being waged by his wife, Amy, and mother, Mary, and displayed a renewed enthusiasm for his life's work. 'Things at home are going much better,' Mickelson said at Firestone Country Club on the eve of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. 'We've had a great six weeks. We're in a much better place now than we were. I'm excited about that. I'm excited about the chance to play a little golf, too.' Back in May, the seemingly perfect world of Phil and Amy Mickelson was rocked after Amy was found to have breast cancer. Days after his wife began treatment in early July, Phil's mother, who decided to have an exam after the diagnosis her daughter-in-law received, was also found to have breast cancer. August has brought more favorable news. 'I feel we've been fortunate because both my mom and Amy have caught it early, and we've been able to have some wonderful care,' Mickelson said. 'And not only have the doctors been incredible in their science, but they've also been very compassionate towards us, and it's just been we've had a great medical experience.' Indelible impressions have been made during the ordeal. Among the things Mickelson said he would never forget are: -- The 'pink-out' the PGA Tour arranged during the Saturday of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, during which players, spectators and tournament officials wore pink clothing in support of Amy Mickelson and breast cancer research. -- How his longtime caddie and friend Jim Mackay and his wife, Jen, 'have helped us with whatever we needed and been with us through this whole ordeal.' -- How other friends took the Mickelsons' children for four or five days to Newport Beach, Calif., and 'Amy's family took them to Salt Lake for a week and out to Houston when Amy felt better.' In addition to the support from friends, family and strangers, Mickelson said he had been moved by the way the PGA Tour had supported the families of tour members Chris Smith, whose wife was killed in a June auto accident; Ken Green, whose leg was amputated after an accident in June in which his brother and fiancee were killed; and Jonathan Byrd, whose father died recently. 'It seems like the players really get behind and emotionally support guys out here on tour when they're going through things,' Mickelson said. 'It's a pretty cool group of guys.' Mickelson is not sure what to expect from his golf game this week. Firestone is a strong test, even in its current rain-softened state. When he goes off the 10th tee on Thursday with Ernie Els and Camilo Villegas, he is likely to be a little rusty. One thing he will not be is indifferent, because another light went on during the long layoff. 'I didn't realize how much I love playing the game of golf,' said the 39-year-old Mickelson, who is ranked No. 2 in the world. 'It's made me re-look at some of my longer-term expectations as far as if I would cut back schedule, when, at what age, all that stuff. 'It just makes me realize how much I really enjoy what I do, how much I love playing the game of golf, how much I love competing on the PGA Tour and how I don't ever want to take that for granted.' For now, Mickelson is committed to playing this week, next week in the PGA Championship at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minn., and The Barclays, the first of the four playoff events in the season-ending competition for the FedEx Cup on Aug. 27-30 at Liberty National in Jersey City. Beyond that, he is just not sure. Nor is he sure whether he is prepared to compete on a high enough level to think about winning an event with 49 of the top 50 players in the world, including the No. 1-ranked Tiger Woods, who won last week. Grateful to be here, with a clear head and positive reports on his wife and his mother, Mickelson has more perspective. Winning, while a nice thought, is not foremost on his mind, and he is not setting his expectations that high. 'I don't want to jump to any conclusions and say that right now,' he said. 'I still have question marks as to how I'll play and whatnot. 'But that's not really the most important thing,' he added. 'The most important thing is that Amy and my mom are doing well. I'm excited about that, and it lets me practice a little bit with a better frame of mind.' 