After shooting an 8-under 63 in Sunday's third round, Phil Mickelson is right back in contention at the Deutsche Bank Championship. (AP)

NORTON — After struggling in the first two rounds of the tournament and making the cut on the number, Phil Mickelson went out and shot a 8-under 63 Sunday and is only four strokes off the lead entering Monday’s final round.

The round included six birdies and holing out for eagle on the par-4 12th from the rough about 165 yards out.

“It was a good ball-striking round,” Mickelson said. “It was one of the best I’ve had. Putting-wise the longest birdie I made was an eight-footer on 11 and  then the next was four feet on 10. I had a couple of two-putt birdies and tap-ins. Then I holed out on 12.

“I’m needing some adjustment still with getting the speed down with the long putter and so forth, but it’s been an interesting trial. But today I struck it as well as I have in a long time.”

This is the first week in his career that Mickelson has used a belly putter. He admits that he still needs more practice with it and is unsure of his plans for the remainder of the season.

“It didn’t go as well as I had hoped the first couple of days, but I don’t think — it’s something that I need to spend a little more time on and I will probably do that in the offseason,” he said. “It comes off at a different speed. It’s a lot heavier, so it’s taking some adjustment foam me on breaking putts. But on the straight putts it’s great because it seems to start the ball on line very easily.”

• Last year Jason Day finished the tournament in second place, five shots behind winner Charley Hoffman. He will enter Monday’s final round only two strokes off the lead.

“Its setting up for a great tournament, great finish, which is good,” he said. “The names are up there, and I think that’s good for the game of golf right now and is good for the FedEx Cup playoffs. No one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow, so I think I’ve just got to come out tomorrow and take it one shot at a time.”

• Rickie Fowler is one of the up-and-coming players on the PGA Tour and will enter the final round trailing Watson by three. In only his second year as a professional Fowler has developed quite the following from the crowds, who all want to see his flashy outfits up close.

“It’s been growing,” he said. “I’ve almost been a pro for almost two years now and it has progressively gotten bigger and bigger. I have some great supporters and great fans and they have been really good to me. I remember last year the fans and the support that I got and it’s been even better this year.

A member of the crowd described it as “Tiger like,” but Fowler wouldn’t go that far.

“I don’t know about that,” he said. “That guy can draw some crowds. Hopefully one day I can get something like that, but for now I have some work to do.”

• Worcester-born Scott Stallings did not have one of his best days on Sunday as he shot a 3-over 74. He is 2-under overall for the tournament, tied for 55th place.

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