Playing in the Houston Open this week is the best possible preparation for golfers before the Masters, World Number 2 Phil Mickelson has claimed.
With the Redstone course in Texas designed to replicate the green and fairways of Augusta, the Callaway golfer described the Houston Open as "tremendous" and "a great place to get ready for next week".
Mickelson said: "The fairways are perfect and tight. They even mowed the grain into you in the fairways, just like Augusta does.
"There is no rough. The first cut is like Augusta."
Usually held in late April, the Houston Open was moved to take place immediately before the Masters when the PGA Tour was reshuffled in preparation for the 2007 season.
The tournament has now become an important warm-up event for the first Major of the year, with many players gauging their likelihood of success at Augusta by their performance at Redstone.
Last year''s Houston Open was won by Titleist golfer Adam Scott.
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