Mickelson fails to capitalise on opportunities

Tulsa (Oklahoma) Aug 10: Phil Mickelson said his wrist felt fine yet he was not able to capitalise on his chances in US PGA Championship first round, shooting three-over-par 73 to tie for 53rd.

Mickelson surged to two under par after four holes with birdies at the first and fourth, but was brought down by six bogeys as he struggled with his putter and bad decisions.

''I was certainly disappointed with the way it finished up,'' the big left-hander told reporters. ''I feel like I'm playing better than the way I'm scoring. I've just got to turn it around.'' Mickelson missed a four-foot putt, and failed to sink some others that could have changed his fortunes.

''You're not going to be able to go all 18 holes and go unscathed,'' said Mickelson, who needs a better result today to avoid missing his third successive cut in a major.

''But I definitely made mistakes. Later in the round I ended up missing the four-footer and a couple of other eight, 10, 12-footers that were pretty makable. That hurt.'' Mickelson looked poised for a big season after two top-threes and victory in The Players Championship before hurting his hand practising for the US Open out of the tangly rough at Oakmont.

The American said it has only been two weeks since he has been able to hit balls without numbing his hand with a lidocaine patch.

''I thought I was going to play well and score well because I had been able to practise and work on my game,'' he said. ''I felt like it was really coming around.'' Three-times major winner Mickelson, the 2005 PGA champion, said teeing off from the back nine in the morning for today's second round could give him an advantage.

''The greens will be softer because the moisture seems to stay in the ground until mid to late morning. And I may get off to a good start, shoot a couple under par on the back side, my front nine, and get it right back to even.

''If I can do that I should be in good position going into the weekend.''

Reuters
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