HOUSTON – In-form Phil Mickelson heads a strong field for this week's Houston Open at Redstone Golf Club, which has again been set up to provide similar conditions to Augusta National for the US Masters which follows.

The world number two, fresh from victory at the WGC-CA Championship in his previous start, will seek his third PGA Tour title this year on a 7,457-yard layout edged by light rough and closely cropped chipping areas.

Twice a champion at Augusta, Mickelson was delighted to claim his first World Golf Championships (WGC) crown nine days ago as part of his build-up to the opening major of the season.

"It feels great to have won because I knew that I was playing some good golf heading in," the 38-year-old American said. "It feels great because I'm starting my Masters run to Augusta. This is all part of the process.

"I enjoy this process of competing, being in the final group, being tied for the lead ... feeling that pressure, feeling that intensity and how important each shot is throughout the entire round.

"All of that adds to helping me, or whoever, play better in the majors, as well as being able to come out on top in a World Golf Championships where we have the best players in the world competing," he told reporters.

Left-hander Mickelson, who worked hard on his game during the off-season with swing coach Butch Harmon, faces an impressive list of likely challengers at Redstone this week.

Fourteen of the world's top 20 players are competing, including eight of the top 10.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia (third), Australian Geoff Ogilvy (fourth), Irishman Padraig Harrington (fifth), Fijian Vijay Singh (sixth), Swede Robert Karlsson (seventh), Colombian Camilo Villegas (eighth) and Swede Henrik Stenson (10th) will all be in action.

Although Singh is still recovering from the effects of knee surgery earlier this year, he has a strong affinity with this tournament having won at Woodlands in 2002 and at Redstone in 2004 and 2005.

American Johnson Wagner defends the title he won by a shot last year to book his place in his first Masters.