Phil: "I like playing in a tournament that's similar to what we'll be playing"

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It will be interesting to see what the players at the Valero Texas Open have to say about it as a pre-Masters venue this year due to a scheduling quirk that has put the Shell Houston Open--and its Augustaeque setup--next week on the schedule.

Phil Mickelson explained why he's not playing at the Valero, home to the reviled TPC San Antonio, even though it's not his preference. Bob Harig reports:

"For me personally, I like playing in a tournament that's similar to what we'll be playing," Mickelson said. "For a long time, we had a pretty good tournament before the U.S. Open. I don't remember what it was [Westchester] but now it's Memphis. It's so hot, I run out of energy and going to the Open, I'm drained so I don't play there anymore.

"This year, having a windy, tight course [in San Antonio] really isn't conducive to getting ready for Augusta. That makes it difficult for me personally so I'll end up going to Augusta a few days early and what have you. I've got to make some adjustments, just because the tournaments before the majors are not helping us at all get ready."

Mickelson is a man of his word, added the Scottish Open last year to his schedule. And with a return to Castle Stuart this year along with an NBC weekend telecast, chances are decent he'll do the same.

PGA Prez: USGA Needs An Anchoring Condition Of Competition

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In his latest column, PGA President Ted Bishop makes his case again against the anchoring ban.

Bishop is recommending a 12th condition of competition to allow leeway in the rules for anchoring if the governing bodies refuse to back down.

I maintain that the USGA and R&A have underestimated the ramifications a rule change banning anchoring. In my opinion, the next best thing to no ban would be the creation of a 12th condition of competition in USGA rules that deals with anchoring. Presently, the four major championships are not uniform to applying four conditions of competition (for example, the one-ball rule, practice putting at hole last played, embedded ball rule and removal of stones in bunkers are handled differently in the majors).

This way every stakeholder walks away with what they want and everybody plays by the same set of rules. Davis, though, disagrees with the idea saying the USGA doesn’t believe in such conditions for “real fundamental rules.”

Politically, I wonder if the PGA of America had started with this as their position if it would have allowed for more dialogue in hammering out a happier outcome to this battle. What that solution would be, I have no idea.

Tiger: "We wanted to limit the 'stalkarazzi'"

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Interesting thinking by Tiger and Lindsey Vonn in releasing the Lifetime movie publicity photos.

Bob Harig reports:

"It's very simple. We're very happy where we're at, but also we wanted to limit the 'stalkarazzi' and all those sleazy websites that are out there following us," Woods said Wednesday at the Bay Hill Club, where he will play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational starting Thursday. "I've had situations where it's been very dangerous for my kids and the extent they'll go to. We basically devalued the first photos.

"Unfortunately, that's just the way it is in our society right now, and we felt like it was the best thing to do. I'm very happy about it."