Mickelson considers switch to long putter

Phil Mickelson is set to tee off at the Deutsche Bank Championship today with a belly putter in his bag after experimenting with it this week.

The four time Major winner has struggled with the short putter this season and is ranked 87th on the PGA Tour putting stats.

Keegan Bradley, Adam Scott and Webb Simpson all claimed US tour victories in August using a belly putter with Bradley winning the USPGA Championship.

Mickelson said: "I just got it Monday. Last week I didn't have any idea about the idiosyncrasies of it and I played with Keegan Bradley and I asked him a bunch of questions.

"It's awkward to me, but so many guys have had success with it that I thought I'd give it a try. I was a little shady with it on the front nine today but a little bit better wih it on the back."

Over the course of the season, Mickelson is ranked 122nd in putts from inside five-feet and said: "I don't mind trying new things. I've hit two drivers and no drivers in U.S Opens and I don't mind trying something different. We'll see."