Perfect practice for the Masters

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 | 6:51 a.m.

Phil Mickelson returns to the TPC at Sugarloaf this week as the defending champion and two-time winner of the BellSouth Classic.

Although his success at Sugarloaf is one of the reasons he is playing the week before the Masters, it isn't the primary reason.

"It (provides) a very similar test of golf to what we see the next week," Mickelson said of the TPC course outside of Atlanta. "What it does is it allows us a great way to not only compete in a championship, but also to hit the same shots that we'd be hitting the following week at Masters."

Mickelson isn't alone. Ten players ranked among the top 20 in the world who will be playing at Augusta next week will be among the field for this week's BellSouth Classic.

"(It) makes it very enticing for a lot of players to come and play, knowing that while we're competing, without even thinking about it, (we're) preparing for the following week."

Although Mickelson is a two-time winner of the BellSouth Classic, having won both his titles in Monday playoffs, he said there is no secret to his success at Sugarloaf.

"I think the biggest thing for me as to why I've ... been able to win the tournament twice is really fortune," he said. "I was fortunate in the playoff against Gary Nicklaus (in 2000) ... (and) I was very fortunate last year because (Jose Maria) Olazabal should have won the tournament in regulation with a 4- or 5-footer for birdie on the last hole and had the same chance again in the playoffs.

"I wish there was another reason I could attribute it to but, honestly, I just can only attribute it to good luck."

Silver Cup qualifier

The Women's Southern Nevada Golf Association will hold its Silver Cup Team Qualifier on May 24 at Anthem Country Club. The qualifier is open to all women with a verifiable USGA handicap administered by the Southern Nevada Golf Association.

This year's Silver Cup - a three-day match-play tournament against the Northern Nevada women's team - will be played Oct. 22-25 at Anthem Country Club. Additional information can be found at www.wsnga.org.

Also noted

The stroke differential between Davis Love III's first round (65) and second round (83) in The Players Championship. Davis, the first-round co-leader, missed the cut by four strokes.

The number of players who have surpassed $2 million in earnings on the PGA Tour this season. The players are Rory Sabbatini, Geoff Ogilvy, Tiger Woods and David Toms.