Phil Mickelson is hoping his missed cut at the Shell Houston Open will have taken the "ridiculous" mistakes out of the equation as he bids to win a third Green Jacket at the Masters next week.
The world number two crashed out of the final PGA Tour stop before Augusta National on Saturday following weather-interrupted rounds of 77 and 76 at Redstone Golf Club, nine over par for the tournament and eight shots adrift of the cut line.
Yet the American, a two-time winner already this season, tried to view his week in Texas in a positive light.
"I obviously didn't want to shoot what I did," Mickelson said.
"I made some ridiculous mistakes that you can't make, and it was great that I played because I didn't want to go into Augusta making those same mistakes, and some of the key shots that I hit like on five where I put two balls in the water... you can't do those things.
"Fortunately, those drives would have been fine at Augusta, but there's so much water here that it wasn't good.
"It was really good that I played here because I made some mistakes during the first two rounds that you just can't do competitively.
"Stuff like that I needed to get out of my system here."
Instead of getting in two more rounds of competitive golf at Redstone as he had intended, Mickelson, who took two weeks off following his victory at Doral in the WGC-CA Championship, had to resort to plan B, which involved extra practice time with instructor Butch Harmon.
"I've got to forget about the score," he said. "That wasn't close to what I was hoping for, but I'm looking forward to next week."
As for Augusta National, Mickelson added: "I expect to play a lot better than I did.
"I certainly am struggling on the greens, too. I can't see the break for whatever reason. They're immaculate. They roll perfect. I'm not able to make many putts on them.
"It doesn't feel like my game is far off. I'm not overly concerned with what the numbers showed. Butch is here, and we had some good work this morning. I hit a lot better iron shots today, and I'm looking forward to next week.
"Next week is going to be a severe challenge. It's in an area where I love. The short game is good. Much wider corridors off the tee without the penalty of a hazard.
"It's tough, I think. There's been times where I've missed cuts the week before and won.
"I needed to play because I needed after two weeks off to get back out and trying to get more of a scoring.
"I made some ridiculous mistakes and I'm glad I saw it and did it now as opposed to next week."
Buffalo Bills’ Donte Whitner arrested as police stop ‘near riot’
HARRINGTON: AUGUSTA THE TOUGHEST
CABRERA HOLDS NERVE TO EDGE PERRY
Buffalo Bills’ Donte Whitner arrested as police stop ‘near riot’
HARRINGTON: AUGUSTA THE TOUGHEST
CABRERA HOLDS NERVE TO EDGE PERRY
