It's not Augusta National, but Redstone is a stern test

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MORE: Prepping for Augusta -- Redstone's routine

HUMBLE, Texas -- The first thing you need to understand is there is nothing that compares to Augusta National.

You could move all the dirt in the world, redesign every hole on the Tournament Course at Redstone, import dogwoods and tangerine-colored azaleas, build the perfect replica clubhouse, cut a pseudo Rae's Creek on the back nine, build a Butler Cabin and transplant a century old sprawling oak and ... it still wouldn't be Augusta National.

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Phil Mickelson is one of many top players competing in Houston this week to prepare for Augusta National.

Heck, the Augusta National that's being played today isn't the course the players will see come Monday. And definitely not the one they'll face in the opening round of the 2008 Masters.

So, when you hear all the talk this week about Augusta-like conditions at the Shell Houston Open, don't think Amen Corner. Or anything like it.

What the good folks at the Shell Houston Open -- in particular Redstone superintendent Roger Goettsch -- want to do is give players a golf course where they can pick shots off tight lies, work approaches out of what equates to a first-cut light rough and putt on perfectly manicured greens running 12-and up on the Stimpmeter. In other words, round their games into shape as they play their way to Augusta.

And given that five of the top 10 players in the world and 28 players total who are in the Masters field are playing this week, it's testament he's done his job.

"It's ideal, it really is,'' said two-time Masters champ Phil Mickelson, who's ranked second in the world. "It may not be exact, but all the shots that you have to hit next week, you have the same conditions here. You have the same shots out of the first cut, same shots around the greens, tight lies, grain into you. It's very similar. It was just a tremendous job.''

Added defending British Open champ Padraig Harrington, "I like the setup. I prefer a golf course that limits the rough and makes you hit the shots.''

Comments like this do a superintendent proud. But Goettsch isn't stopping to take any bows. Not even with attracting Mickelson, No. 4 Steve Stricker, No. 5 Adam Scott, seventh-ranked K.J. Choi and No. 9 Vijay Singh, plus former U.S. Open champ Geoff Ogilvy and current U.S. Open champ Angel Cabrera.

When the Shell Houston Open found out it was moving to the lead-in spot for the Masters starting in 2007, Goettsch knew the tournament needed some kind of tie-in. His mind went to the fact that he was already overseeding the course with rye and saw that as an opportunity to attract top players headed to Georgia.

That said, he called Augusta National superintendent Brad Owen and asked if he could fly over for a visit. He'd been to the Masters twice, but just as a spectator -- never to visit over course conditions and details.

Going in, Goettch knew there was no way to replicate the elevation changes, the greens or anything else unique to the course that Jones built on the old Berckman's Nursery.

"The terrain, the layout and the elevations changes are something only Augusta has,'' he said.

But what he could do? How about simulate their mowing patterns and conditions on a flatter, more wide open Rees Jones layout in Texas.

"I was willing to go as far as I possibly could push to get this mission or this goal of being like Augusta accomplished,'' he said. "Everyone thought it was worth doing, it caught on and we kept plugging away.''

Things you will notice this week? The fairways are all mowed green to tee with none of the cross-hatch mowing you see at most TOUR events. This way, the players are always hitting into the grain and the look is monochromatic -- no rye grass lines. The banks are shaved near water so an errant shot won't pull a Fred Couples-velcro act and stick to a bank as his ball did at No. 12 when he won the 1992 Masters.

And, they're also keeping a good mix of bent grass in the greens -- which are perfectly manicured and caught the eye of Davis Love III, who has played in 18 Masters and finished second twice.

"The guys will go (to Augusta) and they'll be used to hitting off the tight lie or chipping out of this kind of rough or grass,'' said Love, who is trying to play his way into Augusta with a win here. "And these greens are perfect. They've got to be the best greens I've putted on all year.''

Justin Leonard likes the idea of hitting shots into the grain and working on his chipping. Harrington, who always plays the week before a major no matter what, likes that he'll be working on his draws. And that he'll be competing and staying sharp.

"It's good,'' added defending champion Scott, "for your confidence.''

This year, Goettsch enlarged the shaved areas around the greens, along with the entire complexes at both the second and sixth holes. In addition, he upgraded his year-round maintenance program -- one which still pales in comparison to Augusta's program. Then again, what doesn't?

"My mentality overall is I still feel like I'm in second place and if you're second you always try harder,'' he said. "Since we've learned about the setup, we've done other things considerably more all throughout the overseed season. We've tweaked a lot of things that we really didn't do last year.

"In order to get a golf course as good, or close to Augusta, it's a year-round thing. We started formulating our game plan at last year's event... So we've had 12 months to get the right people, the right resources, equipment, manpower to do an even better job this year. And we'll be as good if not better than last year.''

Tournament director Steve Timms is right there with Goettsch. He pushed for the new date and the changes Goettsch pitched.

The success? Hard to match. Just two years ago the Shell Houston Open -- then in late April -- had just four of the top 30 players in the world. Had Ernie Els, who withdrew with a virus earlier this year, played, it would have been six of the top 10. And the golf course? Timms accepts any and all raves.

And, with a cool front due to blow in with winds late this week, the course may be playing firm and fast come the final round.

"We're just trying to reflect the conditions at Augusta,'' he said. 'We don't pretend we're anywhere near the greatest cathedral in golf.''

Just the best place this side of the Augusta gates to get your game ready.

Love agreed. This is close. But nothing is the Masters.

"It's hard to simulate what they put you through,'' he said.

But that's not going to keep Goettsch from getting Redstone as close as he can.

"My goal would be to get all of the top 10 (in the world),'' Goettsch said. "I know we're not one of the majors, but ..."