Phil Mickelson says Shell Houston Open at Redstone could be his regular pre-Masters stop

From WorldGolf.com News Services

Phil Mickelson is among the players who prefer to play the week prior to a major. And now that the Shell Houston Open has made an effort to become a sneak preview of Augusta National, Mickelson said Wednesday that the PGA Tour event might become his regular pre-Masters stop.

"I was told - and accurately - that the golf course was going to be set up similarly to Augusta," Mickelson told reporters after his pro-am round. "It was tremendous. The greens are fast. The fairways are perfect and tight.

"The first cut is just like Augusta. It's a great place to get ready for next week. I'm very appreciative that the tournament made such an effort to make the course so similar."

The Shell Houston Open, which starts today in Humble, Texas, will be played at Redstone Golf Club's Tournament Course. Although there's no way to exactly duplicate Augusta National, Mickelson said tournament officials have given it their best shot with the 7,457-yard, par-72 layout and playing it makes for "ideal" preparation for the Masters.

"It may not be exact, but all the shots that you have to hit next week - you have the same conditions here," Mickelson said. "You have the same shots out of the first cut, same shots around the green, tight lies, grain into you, it's very similar. It was just a tremendous job. I'm very impressed."

If the course stays dry, Mickelson said the greens at Redstone could even resemble the speed of the greens at Augusta.

"They're going to be making them harder and faster as the week goes on," Mickelson said. "If we don't get much rain, I think the weekend will be very similar, very close."

Defending champion Adam Scott said he has been very complimentary of the conditions when asked about the course after last year's Shell Houston Open. Regardless of how closely the course resembles Augusta, Scott said, he just enjoys playing at the Rees Jones design.

"I think it's always nicer to play courses in perfect condition," Scott told reporters. "It's a pleasure to play and this may have been the best-conditioned golf course of the year last year, so that would have definitely convinced me to come back."

Last year, Adam Scott held off 2006 champion Stuart Appleby in a battle of two Australians, saving par with a 48-foot putt on the 72nd hole after hitting his tee shot into the water. Scott shot a 6-under 66 to finish at 17 under, finishing three strokes ahead of Appleby and 54-hole leader Bubba Watson.

Mickelson said that although it's too early to say if he'll return to the event next year, he likes what he's seen so far.

"I would say, given the efforts that I've seen this week, I would plan on making this a permanent stop," Mickelson said.

Shell Houston Open

SCHEDULE: Thursday-Sunday
SITE: Humble, Texas
COURSE: Redstone Golf Club, Tournament (7,457 yards, par 72)
PURSE: $5.6 million (winner's share: $1.08 million)
FEDEX CUP POINTS: 25,000 (winner's share: 4,500)
TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m., 8:30-11:30 p.m. EDT) and NBC (Saturday, 2-5 p.m.; Sunday, 3-6 p.m. EDT)

April 3, 2008