Retief Goosen - First Time Competing In Houston
South African Retief Goosen is making his Shell Houston Open debut hoping it can lead to Masters success next week at Augusta.
The double U.S. Open winner has taken the advice of his PGA Tour colleagues to make his way to Houston and this year’s $US 5.9m event.
Goosen had been used to playing in Atlanta, and the BellSouth Classic, but since the Shell Houston Open was allocated the week before Augusta, the Springbok player has been missing.
“I’m not coming here playing particularly well but this golf course is great preparation for Augusta,” he declared.
“They have set the course up as close as possible they could to Augusta with the same sort of run-offs, the way the grass is cut, the quick greens, the sloppy greens and so on.
“Everything about the golf course is great and that’s why I’m here.
“I used to play the BellSouth Classic but it wasn’t an event that would give you the sort of Augusta preparation so this course definitely provides that.
“So I’m happy to be here and looking forward to learning something this week that will help me next week.”
Goosen has contested four PGA Tour events this year with a best of 12th in his first event the Northern Trust Open while he was 28th a fortnight ago in the Transitions Championship in Florida.
In the years Goosen competed in the BellSouth Classic he then travelled the two hours south-east to Augusta to finish runner-up in 2002.
But in recent years, the 42-year old has battled with Augusta results of 17th (2008), 51st (2009) and 56th last year.
“I’ve always done well at Augusta playing the week before when we had the event in Atlanta, and since that was moved, I don’t really do that well at Augusta,” he said.
“So I feel by playing here hopefully will give me the feeling you need to have going to Augusta.”
And in assisting that goal, Goosen revealed he returned to using the ‘YES’ putter that won him two U.S. Open championship titles.
