Mickelson gets in Augusta groove

2008-04-06

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By John Reger PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

HUMBLE, Texas (Ticker) - Though he finished tied for 22nd, PhilMickelson found Redstone Golf Club much to his liking and theperfect preparation for next week''s Masters.

In the process, Shell Houston Open officials might have found agreat hook to bring players to this event.

The course was designed this week to be as close to a simulationof Masters conditions as possible. Officials cut the rough,sped up the greens and shaved the collars around the puttingsurfaces.

"Well, I was told, and accurately, that the golf course wasgoing to be set up similarly to Augusta," Mickelson said. "Itwas tremendous. The greens are fast. The fairways are perfectand tight. They even mowed the grain into you in the fairwayjust like Augusta does. There''s no rough. The first cut is justlike Augusta.

"I''m very appreciative that the tournament made such an effortto make the course so similar."

Many of the golfers liked the conditions, but other veterans ofAugusta National didn''t think they were identical.

"They try to make it like Augusta," Stuart Appleby said. "It''san attempt, that''s all it is, and thank God they make thatattempt. I think that helps. You can''t get the greens thespeed, you can''t get the chipping. You know, that''s what makesAugusta."

The conditions weren''t perfect - rain on Friday softened thegreens - but golfers, including Mickelson, raved about thecourse.

"It''s ideal, it really is," Mickelson said. "It may not beexact, but all the shots that you have to hit next week, youhave the same conditions here. ... It was just a tremendousjob. I''m very impressed."

"I don''t think anyplace can prepare you for Augusta other thanbeing there at Augusta" Steve Stricker said. "I think justplaying in general prepares you. You get to be under the gunfor the four days leading up to the event and you get to work onyour short game and your putting, and they try to do similarstuff around here like Augusta."

That is exactly what Mickelson did on the weekend after beingeight strokes back after the second round.

"It was a good week for me to identify what I need to work onand find out what areas don''t feel great," Mickelson said. "Igot out of it that my short game wasn''t where it needs to be.My chipping and putting isn''t where it needs to be.Fortunately, I can spend extra time on it now the next couple ofdays leading into the Masters."

Mickelson, who won the Masters in 2004 and 2006, is one of thefavorites, though much like the Official World Golf Rankings, heranks a distant second behind Tiger Woods.

"I''m certainly looking forward to the four majors this year,given my performance in them last year, but I''m fortunate that Idon''t have any injury problems," Mickelson said. "I feelgreat. I''ve been having some good practice sessions. I''mexcited to get started."

Mickelson will take Monday off and then play a practice round onTuesday. On Wednesday, Mickelson will be practicing some ofthe same shots he had at this tournament.

"I thought the superintendent and the staff here did an amazingjob of setting this golf course up," Mickelson said. "I thoughtit was a great place to spend the week before the Masters."

So does that mean Mickelson will be back?

"Absolutely I''ll be back, especially if it''s like this,"Mickelson said. "Everybody at Redstone did a great job and,because of that, I absolutely want to come back."