• Mickelson's pairing heads south as a whole

  • By Michael Collins | August 29, 2014 4:54:35 PM PDT

NORTON, Mass. -- When a group gets hot and scores well, PGA Tour players often say, "We really started feeding off one another."

Unfortunately, that can also work the opposite way.

The Phil Mickelson roller coaster produced only five pars on his scorecard Friday in Round 1 of the Deutsche Bank Championship, and playing partners Justin Hicks and Ryo Ishikawa probably want off the team ride after 18 holes. The threesome made only 11 birdies and 20 pars collectively through 54 combined holes played. The group did, however, share in the wealth of bad scores with 13 bogeys, three double-bogeys, a triple and a quad.

Mickelson made the turn "leading" the way in the wrong direction at 5 over. After a pushed drive on the 14th tee, a woman screamed, "Just give us a wave, puh-lease, Phil!"

He sighed and waved in her direction as a collective "awwwww" came from the people gathered.

Hicks and Ishikawa continued to crash and burn on the back nine, finishing at 6 over and 7 over, respectively. Mickelson managed to post birdies at Nos. 15, 16 and 18 to end his day at 3 over.

Although Mickelson has admitted to being tired and playing this week for the PGA Tour's sake, maybe Hicks and Ishikawa could chip in on a good strong cup of coffee for Lefty before Round 2 begins. Either that, or instead of "feeding off one another," they'll be leaving with one another after 36 holes.


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