By RON KROICHICK, San Francisco Chronicle

SAN FRANCISCO - Notes and observations in the wake of Phil Mickelson's stampede past Tiger Woods and all others in his path Sunday at Pebble Beach:

-- Semi-educated prediction: Woods doesn't come back to the AT&T. Not next year. Not ever.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - Tiger Woods brings the most compelling golf story to Pebble Beach this week: the game's onetime king trying to resurrect his career at one of its most storied venues.

Billy Hurley III brings the most compelling life story -- the college standout-turned-Navy officer who spent five years serving his country before chasing his sporting dreams.

SAN FRANCISCO - Tiger Woods, in many ways, launches the third chapter of his career Thursday in Northern California.

Woods transformed golf in Chapter 1, steaming into historic territory. He seemed destined to chase down Sam Snead's career record for PGA Tour victories (82) and, more important, Jack Nicklaus' standard for professional majors (18).

SAN FRANCISCO - Just imagine all the anticipation, all the steady buildup, all the time for Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson and other top players to recharge their batteries in the offseason.

One PGA Tour season ends Sunday. The next one begins Thursday, four days later.

Really?

Bill Murray, champion golfer.

Those words carry good-natured clout, even a year later.

"I know it wasn't just an accident," Murray said in a telephone interview Tuesday, "but I wish I had dropped breadcrumbs every step of the way, on the whole journey, so I can find my way back."

Geoff Ogilvy showed up last year. Zach Johnson signed up to play this year. Both players are major champions and recognizable names in the golf galaxy, but neither will inspire mainstream sports fans to drive to the Monterey Peninsula or watch golf on television in February.

Tiger Woods is another story.

San Francisco 49ers fullback Moran Norris sometimes hangs out with teammate Frank Gore in public. When 49ers fans approach them, it's usually to greet Gore. He often must introduce his friend before the fans realize Norris also plays for the 49ers.

SAN FRANCISCO - Tom Lehman begins the Schwab Cup Championship in firm control of the season Champions Tour points race. There are various jumbled scenarios on what it would take for Mark Calcavecchia or another player to catch Lehman, but the leader put the whole thing in simpler terms.

They have some right to be smug in the South. College football borders on obsession there, and an SEC team has won the national championship each of the past five years.

So just imagine the shock, dismay and befuddlement that would echo throughout the South if Stanford wins the title this season.

Now that would be cool.

Given the darkness of the previous eight seasons, San Francisco 49ers fans deserve to exult over their team's 4-1 start. That's a nice turnaround -- but it's nothing compared to what's happening in Detroit, where the 49ers play Sunday.

Two years ago, the Lions went 2-14. Three years ago, they were 0-16.

No playoff appearances since 1999, no playoff wins since 1991.