Mickelson in, Tiger out of Houston Open

They are two multiple-Masters champions and legends in their own right but in the lead up to this year’s rescheduled event, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods are taking two different paths to Augusta.

A two-time Champions Tour winner this year, Phil Mickelson was tossing up between playing the season-ending event on that tour, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, or the PGA Tour’s Houston Open, in the lead up to next week’s Masters tournament.

Tiger Woods (Credit: PGA Tour)

Mickelson had earlier voiced his concerns about the 2000 fans per day being allowed in Texas, however, he has now opted to play at the event he won in 2011 when it was known as the Shell Houston Open.

And while Mickelson likes to play in the week before the Masters, Tiger Woods is known to do quite the opposite so it came as no surprise when his manager, Mark Steinberg, confirmed he would not be teeing it up again on Tour prior to the Masters.

At the recent ZOZO Championship, the 44-year-old suggested he may break his habit and tee it up at Memorial Park but after finishing towards the very bottom of the leaderboard, the five-time Masters champ will focus on getting his game in shape away from the course for the defence of his stunning 2019 win.

It might seem like a mistake not to be getting in as much tournament time as possible but Woods hadn’t played in a month prior to his win last year so I guess he knows what he’s doing.

The Houston Open kicks off tomorrow night local time.