Putting woes for Lefty

• By Randall Mell
• Aug 14, 2009 12:47 AM ET

CHASKA, Minn. – With his shadow growing long, Phil Mickelson worked overtime Thursday at the PGA Championship.

Displeased with his uncooperative putter, he gave it extra work on the practice green after his round.

“I had a terrible day putting, just terrible,” Mickelson said after posting a 2-over-par 74 that left him tied for 69th. “I haven’t putted this bad in a long time. You cannot win golf tournaments putting like that.”

Mickelson’s round included a whopping 34 putts with frustrating misses from close range.

“I have to get it figured out before tomorrow,” he said before heading to the practice green.

Mickelson’s problems began at the fifth hole, where he three putted for bogey. He missed from what looked like 3-foot range for par. At the 10th hole, he missed a 4-footer and made double bogey. At the 15th, he missed a birdie chance inside 10 feet.

“I feel like I’m throwing five, six, seven shots away on the greens,” Mickelson said. “I missed a lot of ones you don’t even think about missing.”

Mickelson said he’s adjusting to a small change in his stroke.

“I’ve been working on getting the putter more to square up, to release more, as opposed to dragging it through,” he said. “I just got to get used to it.”