Phil Mickelson preps for the Masters, confirms he’ll play in Houston

Phil Mickelson is set for another comeback attempt in this week’s Shell Houston Open.

The popular righty who plays golf as a southpaw withdrew from last week’s San Antonio contest but confirmed on his website on Wednesday that all systems were go for a start in the final PGA Tour event before the Masters.

Mickelson, who was due in Houston on Wednesday after two days of “light practice” at Augusta, quit the Valero Texas Open midway through the third round with a strained right oblique muscle. After taking in a Spurs game on Saturday night, he went home for the rest of the weekend and flew to Augusta for pre-Masters prep work.

“I played nine holes today at Augusta and I felt pretty good,” he said as he boarded a plane for Houston. “I was able to swing fine. It just felt sore as opposed to hurting.”

Mickelson, who has an outside shot at overtaking the idle Tiger Woods for the No. 1 ranking in golf with back-to-back wins in Houston and Augusta, tweaked his back in Abu Dhabi in January and withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open later that month with the same issue. Last week’s injury was not spine-related.

The absence of the five-time major champion from the Houston Open pro-am was also planned “months ago” so that he could instead participate in a pro-am dinner and get in extra time at Augusta. Mickelson is slated for a 8:50 a.m. ET tee time with Ryder Cup partner Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson.

“I feel that to give myself the best chance at the Masters, I have to play in Houston,” said Mickelson, who won the Houston Open in 2011. “If I thought I would injure myself further I would have withdrawn from the tournament but the last few days have been good.”