NORTON, Massachusetts --- Phil Mickelson's star presence at the Deutsche Bank Championship was evident by the company he kept at the TPC Boston on Thursday.

He played the pro-am with tournament host Seth Waugh, the CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas; New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and NFL New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft. Such is the VIP treatment typically afforded the highest-ranked player in the field.

FedEx Cup playoff standings aside, that honor still falls to Mickelson.

He is No. 2 in the world ranking, although it's easy to forget that. Because while Tiger Woods has been out of sight for two months after his season-ending knee surgery, Mickelson at times has been missing in action.

Some thought he would take advantage of Woods' absence by piling up victories, perhaps another major or two, and giving himself a chance to win the money title or PGA Tour Player of the Year for the first time in his career.

But it hasn't worked out that way.

Mickelson has played four times with only one serious chance at winning, when he had a one-shot lead until bogeys on three of the last four holes at the Bridgestone Invitational to tie for fourth. He had to rally to make the weekend at the British Open, was steady but not spectacular in his tie for seventh at the PGA Championship and opened the U.S. PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup last week with a tie for 19th.

"I've played the same way I've played throughout the year," Mickelson said. "I just haven't been scoring the way I would like. Even though I feel like I'm playing better, the little shots around the greens have cost me. But I'm starting to get that turned around, and I expect to have a much better week."

By most standards, Mickelson has had a good year. He won at Riviera and Colonial, and he is third on the money list, a little more than $1 million behind Woods. With three more $7 million events, a money title is not out of reach.

Woods hasn't played since winning the U.S. Open in a playoff, and the tour has had a taste of life without the world's most famous athletes. Attendance has been noticeably down in recent events, and television ratings have plunged, as to be expected.