Phil Mickelson, eyeing The Masters, plans to play Shell Houston Open as "warmup"

Among the handful of golfers who can stop Tiger Woods from winning the Grand Slam, Phil Mickelson is as good a bet as anyone.

When Mickelson is on, he’s as close to Woods as anybody. The trouble is, of course, you never know what wild stunt Mickelson might pull even when he is on.

Mickelson said he planned to play the Shell Houston Open this year, just prior to The Masters, because officials there promised to set up the course as close to Augusta National as they can get it, according to PGA Tour.com

That includes fairway width, the same kind of first cut and the same green speed.

“…I think I’m going to try it and see if it’s a good place to warm up for the Masters,” Mickelson told PGA Tour.com

It’s a little demeaning on the part of the Houston tournament, but not a bad marketing ploy: Lure the big names by mimicking Augusta National.

Maybe this is the year Mickelson will stop being intimidated by Woods. But, I doubt it. Mickelson may actually have more pure talent than Woods, but not his mental strength.