For those participants who like to play a tournament the week before they arrive at Augusta National Golf Club, it seemed like a perfect scenario when the BellSouth Classic became the prelude to the Masters Tournament in 1999.

Defending Masters champion Phil Mickelson (left) and his coach, Rick Smith, walk across Magnolia Lane to the driving range at Augusta National Golf Club. Mickelson says he misses the lead-in to the Masters provided by the BellSouth Classic, which became the AT&T Classic this year and moved to mid-May. (Andrew Davis Tucker/Staff)

If they missed the BellSouth cut, it gave them a couple of extra days of practice at Augusta National. If they didn't, they could take the two-hour-plus drive from Duluth, Ga., down Interstate 20 to Augusta after Sunday's final round and be at the course the next morning.

"Yeah, it was a quick little hop, skip and jump," J.J. Henry said.

Henry and the rest of the Masters field don't have that option anymore.

Those players who wanted a competitive tune-up for the 71st Masters came to Augusta from Humble, Texas, not the TPC at Sugarloaf in Duluth.

When the PGA Tour decided to shake up its schedule this year by introducing the FedEx Cup playoffs, the BellSouth Classic got its wish: a later date. The tournament, now known as the AT&T Classic, will be played May 17-20.

The Houston Open, which had been played in late April, was moved to the week before the Masters. Twenty-two Masters participants played in the Houston Open, which ended Sunday, and 16 made the cut, including Augustan Vaughn Taylor. The biggest name missing the cut was two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal.

Tiger Woods signs an autograph for Tholie Murchinson, of Washington, D.C., at Augusta National on Sunday. (Andrew Davis Tucker/Staff)

Since the tournament then known as the BellSouth Classic moved to the pre-Masters date, it had usually been plagued by bad weather. Often, the 36-hole cut wasn't made until Saturday. One year, there was a 36-hole windup Sunday. In 2000, it was shortened to 54 holes. Another year, it ended on Monday, which set back the players' Masters preparation.

Phil Mickelson was one of the biggest boosters of the BellSouth Classic, which he won in 2000, 2005 and 2006. The defending Masters champion, who won the BellSouth last year with a tournament record 28-under-par total, arrived at Augusta National last week to practice rather than play in the Houston Open.

"I'm really disappointed they moved the tournament," Mickelson said. "I'm going to really miss that place. I just think it's a terrific tournament. I've been fortunate the last two years to have won that tournament, and it's such a great place to prepare for the Masters."

The TPC at Sugarloaf has similarities to Augusta National with its rolling fairways, elevation changes and slick, bentgrass greens.

"As far as preparation for Augusta, you can't prepare for Augusta," said Zach Johnson, the 2004 BellSouth Classic champion. "It is its own course. Atlanta is probably as good as it would have gotten as far as trying to mimic the condition of the course. But all in all, it's not the same."

Like Mickelson, Johnson decided not to play last week in Texas.

Mickelson said there were also similarities in the type of shots hit at TPC at Sugarloaf and Augusta National. Plus, it was at the BellSouth last year that he experimented with his two-driver theory (one for distance, the other for control) that he implemented at the Masters the next week with great success.

"That's a golf course and a tournament I've grown to love," said Mickelson, who said it is going to be "very difficult" to work the AT&T Classic into his schedule this year with its new date.

The BellSouth's old date also worked well for international Masters players. Many of them, including Olazabal, of Spain, were regulars.

Playing in the tournament the week before the Masters helped them keep their games sharp after the trip to the United States, and the week helped them become accustomed to the time change.

But the weather problems kept many PGA Tour regulars away. Last year, fewer than 30 of the 90 players in the Masters field played.

Still, some of those Masters participants dominated the tournament.

In addition to Mickelson, runners-up Johnson and Olazabal played in the Masters the next week, as did Goosen, who tied for fourth place at the BellSouth.

It proved to be a good tune-up for all four. Mickelson went on to win the Masters; Goosen and Olazabal tied for third place; and Johnson tied for 32nd.

Reach David Westin at (706) 823-3224 or david.westin@augustachronicle.com.