Phil Mickelson has SEVEN penalty strokes on day one of 3M Open
Mickelson has a mare in Minnesota - Lefty plays himself out of contention at TPC Twin Cities.
Phil Mickelson suffered SEVEN penalty strokes en route to a dismal first-round 74 at the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities.
Mickelson found himself 1-under after five holes at the inaugural tournament, having started on the 10th, but then stumbled to a triple-bogey eight on the 18th when finding the water twice.
Lefty also found the water off the tee on the second hole and again on the 9th.
"Oh, my goodness. You know, I had seven penalty strokes. You can't do that and compete," said Mickelson, who lies tied 133rd after the first round. "It's frustrating because I felt like I was playing well, making some good swings. I made some terrible ones."
Mickelson has not made a top-10 finish since winning the AT&T Pebble Beach in February, and has missed five of the last 11 cuts.
"I've got to shoot something in the mid-60s just to be here for the weekend," said Mickelson.
"I thought coming in I was swinging well, but today tells me I'm not quite there. Needs a little work obviously."
