Phil Mickelson slows down after fast start at Wells Fargo Championship

A string of bogeys to start Friday’s second round at the Wells Fargo Championship has Phil Mickelson once again scrambling to find some rhythm.

Mickelson was hoping to turn things around at Quail Hollow in the midst of a rough season -- no Top 10 finishes -- on the PGA Tour. His disappointing year, which includes a missed cut at the Masters last month, has added fuel to the notion that the left-hander is past his prime.

“I haven’t played as well as I would like to this year, and I haven’t been getting off to a great start, so I’m always playing from behind,” he said.

A 67 in the first round seemed to give him a needed boost. But Mickelson began Friday’s play with three bogeys in his first nine holes to drop to 3-under.

To make matters worse, he was hoping that during his trip to North Carolina he might practice at nearby Pinehurst in advance of the upcoming U.S. Open. Earlier this week, Mickelson said that every time he’s called, the course has been booked.

The first-round leader at the Wells Fargo, Angel Cabrera, was scheduled to tee off around 10 p.m. PT.

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