Late bogies cost Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson, although annoyed he did not make more of favourable conditions in the U.S. PGA Championship second round on Friday, was happy his position going into the weekend.

The U.S. Masters champion, stumbling after a good start, fired a level-par 72 at Whistling Straits to finish at three-under 141.

"I had a lot of chances," the 34-year-old Californian told reporters after playing in the relative calm of the morning. "I could have had a very low day, a really good day, and I let it slide.

"I knew I was playing well before I teed off and I felt very sharp.

"I certainly like my position, but I want it (the course) to be more difficult. I want it to be harder. I was expecting it to be harder than it is."

Mickelson, who in April became the second successive left-hander to win the Masters, birdied the 10th, his first hole, the 15th and 16th to get to six under.

He lost ground after the turn, however, with a double-bogey on five after finding water off the tee and further dropped shots on seven and eight.

Although he birdied the par-four ninth, Mickelson ended up five strokes off American Briny Baird's early lead.

"It was nice to finish by making a putt (on nine) because the eight holes previous to that on the back side were not very good for me with the putter," said Mickelson, who opened with a 69. "I really gave a lot of shots away there.

"I played my front nine solid, hit a lot of good shots and made birdies where I needed to," added 'Lefty', as he is affectionately known.

The world number four, who has contended strongly in all three majors this year, conceded he was fortunate to be among the day's earlier starters.

"This morning was a very good morning to go low," he said. "I thought it was awfully easy, actually.

"I just think that this golf course has the potential to be a very difficult and fair test of golf. Right now, you can attack the pins, but the winds haven't been blowing and that is a big factor."

The par-72 Straits Course, playing to its full 7,514 yards on Friday, is the longest layout in major championship history.

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