Poor finish costs Mickelson early Memorial lead

DUBLIN, Ohio, Jun 2 (Reuters) US Masters champion Phil Mickelson cost himself an early share of the Memorial tournament lead by bogeying the last two holes in the weather-hit opening round.

On a humid day at Muirfield Village Golf Club, the American left-hander returned a three-under-par 69 to finish two strokes behind his pace-setting compatriot Sean O'Hair.

Mickelson, playing his first PGA Tour event in four weeks, had to settle for a 12-way tie for fourth place on a high-quality leaderboard, yesterday.

Play was suspended for the day because of the threat of a late afternoon thunderstorm with another American left-hander, Steve Flesch, holding the outright lead at six under after 17 holes.

Compatriot Zach Johnson was at four under, also with one hole remaining. Thirty players were still out on the course when play was halted for the day.

Among those on 69 were Americans Davis Love III and Fred Couples, former world number one Nick Price of Zimbabwe, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, Briton David Howell and Australians Craig Parry and Stuart Appleby.

REUTERS PG KN1410