After Strong Start, Mickelson Fades On The Back Nine

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Phil Mickelson's wrist feels good. After finally logging some solid practice time, he thought his game was pretty good, too.<br/><br/>The results after one round at the PGA Championship?<br/><br/>Not

Thursday, August 9th 2007, 9:48 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Phil Mickelson's wrist feels good. After finally logging some solid practice time, he thought his game was pretty good, too.

The results after one round at the PGA Championship?

Not so good.

Mickelson wilted on the back nine at Tulsa's Southern Hills Thursday. He found sand, he found rough and, most damaging of all, he found himself taking a whole lot of putts on the way to a 3-over 73 that left him eight strokes behind leader Graeme Storm.

A win this week would make Mickelson one of only five players to record a major victory in four consecutive years. Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen are the others.

Mickelson's debacle last year at the U.S. Open cost him not only the tournament but the rest of the season.