Phil Mickelson chips out of the No. 2 bunker during the practice round Tuesday. (Annette M. Drowlette/Staff)

Playing alongside an amateur making his Masters Tournament debut can make one think about his first time at Augusta National Golf Club.

Preparing for his 17th Masters, Phil Mickelson played his Tuesday practice round with Drew Kittleson, a sophomore at Florida State University. As they walked the course, Mickelson said, he found himself thinking back to his first Masters and the way the course has changed since.

"I do look back and remember how different a lot of holes have played, how different putts would break years ago, some changes in the greens," he said. "It's remarkable, the changes. All of the trees that have been added, how much longer the course is."

Mickelson gave Kittleson pointers throughout their round, helping him prepare for the different pin positions he would see during tournament play. He came away impressed.

"(Kittleson) hits it a long way and has a good short game," Mickelson said. "I think he's going to have a good week."

Though Kittleson said he had played Augusta National about a dozen times before, his practice round with one of the sport's biggest stars and a two-time Masters champion meant performing in front of a large crowd.

"It's what you practice and play for," Kittleson said. "Hopefully, I can play well this weekend and have to deal with a lot more than that."

As for Mickelson, he enters the season's first major having won two of his first seven events this year.

The three-time major winner missed the cut in last weekend's Shell Houston Open.

Despite that misstep, Mickelson said he is encouraged by his recent play.

Mickelson (right) and U.S. Amateur runner-up Drew Kittleson walk down the third fairway while practicing together. (Annette M. Drowlette/Staff)

"I feel as good about my game as I have," he said. "I know that last week wasn't great, and I just am not going to worry about that. I've been playing well heading in and made some dumb mistakes, and, hopefully, I won't make those same mistakes this week."

If Mickelson avoids the way he played last week and instead plays more like he did at the Northern Trust Open and the WGC-CA Championship - the two events he has won so far this year - he knows he could end up in a Sunday pairing with Tiger Woods.

Though a showdown between golf's two biggest stars and top-ranked players would thrill fans, Mickelson insists that he would treat the occasion as he would any other pairing.

"I've got to attack the golf course the way I can and not worry about what he does and not let his great shots or poor shots affect the way I play my next shot," Mickelson said. "It's not a matchplay situation. It's a strokeplay event, and for me to play my best, I can't get caught up in that, nor can he."