HUMBLE, Texas -- Phil Mickelson has never shied away from suspense, though its usually limited to his play. Jacob Josefson Jersey . The four-time major winner, who withdrew from last weeks Texas Open after pulling a muscle in his right side, waited as long as possible to end the guessing about whether he would play this week ahead of the Masters. Mickelson finally announced his intentions to indeed play at this weeks Houston Open on Wednesday afternoon through a post on his website. The decision came after two days of "light practice" at Augusta National, where Mickelson said his side "felt sore as opposed to hurting." "I feel that to give myself the best chance at the Masters I have to play in Houston," Mickelson said. "If I thought I would injure myself further I would have withdrawn from the tournament, but the last few days have been good." Mickelson didnt play in Wednesdays pro-am, fueling speculation that he might withdraw from the tournament he won in 2011. However, tournament director Steve Timms said that had been planned for six weeks -- long before his injury. Timms said Mickelson had already agreed to take part in a sponsor dinner rather than play in the pro-am. The worlds No. 5 player helped solidify the Houston Opens spot as a preferred Masters tuneup by committing to play in 2008 and every year since. He finished 16th last year. Mickelsons return to the 7,441-yard Golf Club of Houston -- formerly known as Redstone Golf Club before an ownership change -- highlights a stellar field that features the winners of 34 major championships. Its a field that includes Henrik Stenson, Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia, among others, as well as defending champion D.A. Points. First and foremost, theyre after the winners share of the $6.4 million event -- while also using the courses slick greens and tight rough to prepare for the Masters. After a schedule change last year, the tournament is back in its normal slot. And thats just fine with McIlroy, who tied for 45th at the event last year while still in the infant stages of a club change. "Its brilliant," McIlroy said. "They get the fairway heights the same, the rough heights the same, the runoff around the greens ... Its perfect for that." McIlroy finished 19th at the Houston Open in 2009 before missing the cut a year later. The former world No. 1 was winless on the PGA Tour last year, though he has been trending upward since -- including a win over Adam Scott in the Australian Open in December. He finished second at the Honda Classic last month before tying for 25th at Doral. McIlroy took the last three weeks off leading into the Houston Open-- a big change from last year when he decided to play the Texas Open only days ahead of time. Even with Augusta National looming, McIlroy said hes fully focused on competing this week. "I think its important to finish well," McIlroy said. "I dont think theres any better way to prepare than getting yourself into contention and playing golf under pressure, because thats ultimately what you want to do next week." Points sank a 13-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to win last year, winning by one stroke over Stenson and Billy Horschel. The American hasnt finished higher than 28th this year, including missed cuts in each of his last two tournaments, but his confidence is high this week. "Knowing that Ive had success here, and its cool to be out there," Points said. "Makes you feel like, Hey, I can do that again." Mickelson tees off Thursday morning with Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley, with the threesome of Texas native Jimmy Walker, Stenson and Matt Kuchar behind them. McIlroys threesome with Dustin Johnson and Luke Donald begins in the afternoon, followed immediately by a group including Jordan Spieth, Garcia and Steve Stricker. Seth Griffith Jersey . The four-time Grand Slam champion has beaten Hantuchova nine straight times, with the Slovaks only win coming when they first played 10 years ago. "I had a tough first opponent who can play extremely good tennis," Sharapova said. Kyle Okposo Jersey . -- The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Cuban shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena to a $25 million, five-year contract Saturday. http://www.officialsabreshockeyauthentic.com/chad-johnson-jersey/ . If one fighter gases, he usually gets beat up pretty bad from that point on.VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson has seen his fair share of strange injuries over the years, and Nigel Reo-Cokers bizarre mishap is just another one to add to the list. Reo-Coker is expected to miss the Major League Soccer clubs game this weekend against the Houston Dynamo with a concussion after he tripped over a bike rack and banged his head in Vancouver on Sunday. The 29-year-old midfielder missed Tuesdays training session and was absent again on Wednesday, with Robinson revealing that Reo-Coker will likely sit out against the Dynamo. "Hes a little bit bruised and cut," said Robinson. "Hes not here with us today but we hope he makes a speedy recovery and hopefully (is) back very soon." A former Welsh international during his playing days, Robinson said Reo-Cokers tumble ranks among some of the more odd injuries hes come across. "Ive seen a few and heard a few in my time, picking up a remote control and pulling your hamstring and things like that. Its one of them that fits into that category," said Robinson. "Its quite a serious injury for him but its one that makes you chuckle when you hear about it and the story. Its a strange one." The injury occurred after Reo-Coker had returned with his teammates to Vancouver following the Whitecaps 0-0 road ddraw against the New England Revolution on Saturday afternoon. Jason Kasdorf Jersey. "He just fell and tripped. I dont think he was looking where he was going, which is never a good sign for a midfield player," Robinson deadpanned, before adding: "Obviously youve got to be very careful with head injuries these days. "Hes done the concussion test and there was a slight issue so it was a little bit worrisome but hes fine. I spoke to him for half an hour today in the office. Its normal Nige back." Reo-Coker has started all three games for Vancouver (1-0-2) so far this season, but was subbed off after 70 minutes on Saturday in favour of Gershon Koffie, who seems like the most obvious candidate to take the Englishmans place in the lineup against Houston (2-0-0) this Saturday. A box-to-box central midfielder, Reo-Coker joined the Whitecaps in February 2013 after stops with Wimbledon, Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United in his home country. He started 31 MLS games for Vancouver last season, collecting one goal and four assists. Reo-Coker has one assist in 220 minutes of action so far in 2014. "Youre always due for one or two strange injuries a season," said Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit. "You feel for Nigel. Hell have to answer you to how it all happened." Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Disocunt Football Jerseys White NFL Jerseys Cheap Discount Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Wholesale NFL T-shirts NFL Jerseys China ' ' '