HUMBLE, Texas -- Phil Mickelson did more than prove to just himself that hes ready for next weeks Masters on Thursday. The five-time major winner showed to everyone that hes fully recovered from last weeks muscle pull and likely to be a factor in this weeks Houston Open as well. Without so much as a practice round this week at the 7,441-yard Golf Club of Houston, Mickelson opened with a 4-under par 68 and was among the leaders following Thursdays opening round. The bogey-free performance was a far cry from last week when Mickelson was forced to withdraw during the third round in San Antonio after pulling a muscle in his right side "Im surprised because I was worried about the Masters," Mickelson said. "I was certainly worried about Houston, but it healed a lot quicker. I felt great today; didnt feel any pain or discomfort and didnt even think about it." Mickelson is three shots back of first-round co-leaders Bill Haas and Charley Hoffman, both who finished at 7 under. Hass had five birdies on his back nine, while Hoffman needed just 27 putts to earn a share of the lead. Keegan Bradley and Matt Kuchar lead a group of five golfers at 6 under. J.B. Holmes, Erik Compton and Jim Renner are also at 6 under, with 10 golfers are at 5 under. Of the 144 players in the field, 113 finished at even par or under on an overcast and occasionally misty day. "The greens are absolutely perfect," Haas said. "... I think the scores are reflective on that. They were a little slower, but part of that, too, is the weather. It was like a little dewy mist out there all day, which played a part in the speed of the greens." Mickelson and Bradley were part of a threesome with Webb Simpson, who also finished 4 under. All three players in the group navigated the course without a bogey in their morning rounds. Former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, playing in the afternoon and one of the five top-10 players in the world in the tournament, finished with a 2-under 70. While Haas and Hoffman shared the lead after Thursdays play, it was Mickelson -- who was forced to withdraw during last weeks third round in San Antonio after pulling a muscle in his right side -- who was the centre of attention leading into next week at Augusta National. Mickelson has won the Masters three times, the latest coming in 2010, but his status was in doubt following last weeks injury. The left-hander, however, underwent treatment in the days following his departure from San Antonio -- along with fitting in two days of light practice at Augusta National -- and appeared in top ball-striking form on Thursday. "One of the things I really worked on hard today was staying focused on each shot," Mickelson said. "... I needed to play here this week and really challenge myself in that regard to give myself the best chance for next week." Opening on the back nine at the former Redstone Golf Club, which was renamed the Gold Club of Houston following an ownership change, Mickelson was bogey free despite needing 31 putts. He made the turn at 2 under following a 16-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th, and he birdied both of the par 5s on his back nine to put himself squarely in contention. Mickelson won the Houston Open in 2011, and the courses Masters-like setup -- including slick greens and tight rough -- is a key reason hes returned every year since. "He was striking it, he was hitting it long and great," Bradley said of Mickelson. "... He seems like it was feeling a lot better today than it was in San Antonio." Kuchar, who finished tied for fourth at last weeks Texas Open, had three straight birdies in the middle of his round on Thursday -- highlighted by a 47-foot birdie putt on the 445-yard par-4 second hole. McIlroy, one of five of the top 10 players in the world in the field, was as low as 3 under before a pair of bogeys on the back nine. World No. 10 Dustin Johnson withdrew following an opening 8-over par 80. Jarrad Davis Jersey .C. United on Saturday night and boost the Unions playoff hopes. Nick DeLeon scored in the 36th minute for United (3-23-6), which had ample opportunities to build on its lead but went its 10th straight match without a victory. Kenny Golladay Jersey .com) - The Toronto Raptors are paying Rudy Gay a visit on Wednesday night when they head into the Sleep Train Arena to take on the Sacramento Kings. http://www.shopdetroitlionsnfl.com/lions...n-black-jersey/. He will be practicing with the Norfolk Admirals (AHL) on a conditioning assignment. - @AnaheimDucks Corey Perry has a knee sprain and will miss the next three to four weeks. Detroit Lions Jerseys .Tzavelas opened the scoring in the 11th and Pereyra added another in the 51st. Emmanuel Kone pulled one back in the 80th and Levadiakos missed several chances to level in the last 10 minutes. Calvin Johnson Lions Jersey . Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers were left fretting over an MRI on the stars left knee. Paul George scored 21 points, Roy Hibbert added 19 and the Pacers used a dominant fourth quarter to blow out the Cavaliers 91-76 on Tuesday The Pacers (25-5) have won eight in a row over Cleveland, their longest active streak against any opponent.ATLANTA - For one night, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer found no reason to criticize his teams defence.The guys have really committed and were very good defensively, Budenholzer said. We cant rest. We have to get better.Paul Millsap scored 18 points, Mike Scott added 14 and the Atlanta Hawks handed the Charlotte Hornets a ninth straight loss with a 105-75 victory on Saturday night.Dennis Schroder and Kyle Korver each finished with 12 points for Atlanta (9-6), which has won two straight and four of five.The Hornets (4-14) trailed by 20 early in the second quarter, by 32 late in the second and were down by 44 early in the third.Right now it doesnt matter what you tweak if you dont show up and play, Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said. You have to give a professional effort, and that was not a professional effort.The Hawks began the game ranked 24th in defensive scoring, but Al Jefferson was the only Hornet in double figures before reserve guard P.J. Hairston scored his 10th point early in the fourth.Hairston led Charlotte with 15 points. Hornets guard Gerald Henderson, who had 14 points, was the only starter for either team to play in the fourth quarter.Jefferson finished with 11 points and reserve guard Jannero Pargo added 10. Starting guards Kemba Walker and Lance Stephenson missed a combined 13 of 18 shots from the field to finish with 10 total points.The Hornets, who are 1-9 since starting forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a stress reaction in his right foot, weere horrible defensively in the first half, letting the Hawks shoot 61 per cent, getting outscored by 18 in the paint and getting outrebounded by 13.ddddddddddddere at a point where we need a win and were coming into a game with that kind of mentality and we give that kind of effort, thats never a good thing, Henderson said. Thats not who we want to be.Atlanta led 64-28 at intermission and was up by 44 on Horfords hook shot with 7:45 left in the third. The Hawks improved to 7-2 at home.Korver hit a 3-pointer midway through the first to give the Hawks their first double-digit lead.Mike Scotts free throw at 8:29 of the second put Atlanta up by 20 for the first time, and Carroll hit a 3-pointer at the 1:55 mark to make it a 32-point lead.The Hawks led by 40 on Korvers free throw at the 9:38 mark of the third.TIP-INSHornets: Clifford