CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Phil Mickelson, often referred to as a man of the people, might need the people to clear out before he gets his first look at Pinehurst No. 2.

Mickelson is in North Carolina for the first of two big tournaments, one weighted a little more than the other. In what amounts to the second stage of the season, he tees off Thursday in the Wells Fargo Championship on a Quail Hollow course that has new greens and an exciting new finish.

Six weeks later, he’ll be two hours east at Pinehurst No. 2 for the U.S. Open.

This would seem like a good time for Lefty to sneak over to Pinehurst for his first look.

“I’ve tried to get down there three times now, and the course has been booked all three times,” Mickelson said Wednesday.