Mickelson looking for consistency with Masters looming

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HUMBLE, Texas -- One thing about Phil Mickelson.

His rounds are anything but boring.

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Phil Mickelson is enjoying the Augusta National-like conditions at Redstone.

Thursday, he was slashing out the of the woods and finishing with a double-bogey kerkplunk into the water at No. 18. And Friday? He ran in a little 35-footer for eagle at the eighth -- his 17th hole of the day.

Try six shots difference. And a good chance to get on one hell of a roll going into the weekend at the Shell Houston Open. And right on into Augusta where he's looking for Green Jacket No. 3.

"I need a low one,'' Mickelson said after his second-round 68. "I shot 4 under today and I felt like I gave six or eight shots away. I feel like there's a 62 o 63 out there.''

And he's just the guy to find it.

Back here at Redstone for the first time since 2003, Mickelson wanted to play his way into the Masters and liked the Augusta National-like conditions on the Tournament Course setup.

"I love the way the course has been set up,'' said Mickelson, who played a few practice rounds at Augusta National last weekend. "It's a unique event like the Masters ... and to have it the week before ... It couldn't work out better for the players.''

What could work better for the world No. 2 is his putter. His opening 72 was frustrating, in part because of his putter and the double bogey at the 18th didn't help either.

Friday, he started hitting better shots, but the flat stick still refused to cooperate.

"It was a day where I felt I hit a lot of good shots and just couldn't get a putt to go in,'' Mickelson said.

Of course, there was that eagle. He had 235 to the pin and hit a 4-iron in at the 557-yard, par-5 eighth hole and put it 35 feet from the pin. When that dropped, he found himself 4 under.

It brought on a grin, followed by a serious headshake.

"I've got a lot of work to do,'' Mickelson said. "I'm pleased with the way I'm starting to hit a lot of shots, but I'm not pleased with the how I've been around the greens and that's a very critical element next week.

"I've got to get some putts to go in. I'm three-putting and missing short ones and not getting a lot of opportunities to go. The greens are absolutely perfect. It's not them. I'm not either reading them right or hitting the right line with the right speed.''

But he is beginning to give himself opportunities.

"I think if I get the putter turned around I've got a lot round in me," Mickelson said. "It'll give me a chance."

Here and next week at Augusta National.