Why Phil Mickelson May Play Phoenix not Houston Pre-Masters

This week, Phil Mickelson is playing at the ZOZO Championship at Sherwood CC, a place he knows but has played only once in a PGA Tour co-sanctioned tournament. He was in the field at the 2002 Williams World Challenge.

The Williams World Challenge was the original name for what is now the Hero World Challenge, otherwise known as Tiger Woods’ end of the year event. Phil Mickelson also played in the very first one, held in Scottsdale, played at Grayhawk.

Now, he is looking toward an exciting end to the 2020 year with the Masters two weeks before Thanksgiving. Mickelson was all set to tee it up in Houston the week prior to playing Augusta National. However, the recent news is that the Vivint Houston Open will allow 2000 fans at the tournament each day. That opens up some questions, for Mickelson at least.

He noted that the PGA Tour has done an exceptional job of creating a safe atmosphere for the players at every event. It has resulted in very few positive tests, although Dustin Johnson and Adam Scott now have it.

More from Phil Mickelson

"“I think that they will do a very good, safe job in having 2,000 people at the Houston Open,” Mickelson said in his pre-tournament press conference for ZOZO. “However, for me personally, I don’t like the risk that having that happen the week before the Masters.”"

He was particularly nervous about false positives, which some people have experienced.

Adding extra people to the mix the week prior to the Masters is not something he wants to leave to chance. Luckily, Mickelson is a member of two tours, the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. So, he may opt for the older circuit the week before heading to Augusta National.

The same week that the Vivint Houston Open is to be played, the PGA Tour Champions circuit plays the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club. The course used to be the site of the Waste Management Open, back when it was simply the Phoenix Open. Because Phil Mickelson attended Arizona State University in Tempe, next door to Phoenix, it is likely he is quite familiar with the course.

Phoenix Country Club alternated with Arizona Country Club as the site of the Phoenix Open event from 1935 to 1975. In 1975, Phoenix Country Club became the sole host. Then, in 1987, the tournament moved to its current home, TPC Scottsdale.

Mickelson’s final decision is contingent on one other factor: Will there also be fans on-site at the Phoenix Open?

"“If Phoenix does not have people, I’ll probably go there, to be honest,” Phil Mickelson explained. “If they’re both going to have galleries, I’ll probably go to the Houston Open.”"

His intent at this point is still to play the week before the Masters, and it’s now a matter of deciding which will be the safest arena for competition.

Certainly, after just winning the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, his form is good.

He said the victory was certainly a momentum builder, pre-Masters. It also let him know what parts of his game were on and what parts still needed work.

"“My putter’s been really good the last couple of months,” he said after his victory. “I’m excited to get to that golf course (Augusta National) putting the way I am, I think I can get in contention just based solely on as well as I’ve been putting.”"

Golf Tips: Adjustments to make to become better at putting. dark. Next

While the ZOZO held at Sherwood Country Club is not as broad and expansive a course as Augusta National, it is a Jack Nicklaus design, requiring good second shots into greens that have strategic angles to the fairway. It will test the iron game. Phil Mickelson does not have to win at Sherwood, but he certainly would like to make a good showing. He last played there in the Williams World Challenge in 2002 and finished 10th.

Home/Phil Mickelson