BERMUDA DUNES — Bubba Watson's first three rounds were a roller-coaster at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, but his fourth round ended on a high at Bermuda Dunes Country Club.

Today, Watson hopes to go low.

In the final round of the 90-hole event at the PGA West Palmer Course, Watson is seven strokes off the lead of the 50th annual event after carding a stunning 9-under 63 at Bermuda Dunes, the second-most difficult course to master this week of the four-course rotation.

“Anytime you shoot 9-under, you feel good,” said the left-handed Watson, who rolled in nine birdies to move from 23rd on the leader board to third. He stands at 26-under. “I'm still in the top five with an outside chance of winning. And anytime you have a chance of winning, that's a good feeling.”

Watson is tied for third with Vaughn Taylor and Robert Garrigus, but trails leader Steve Stricker by seven shots. Pat Perez is alone in second at 30 under.

Watson's rounds included 62 at the Palmer Private Course, the site of today's finale, 69 at PGA West Nicklaus, 68 at SilverRock and Saturday's 63 at Bermuda Dunes.

It's been an up-and-down week for Watson, but he's set himself up well for a solid finish.

“I started the week in second place after I shot 62, struggled on the second day, came back a little bit, then dropped down to 13th,” the 30-year old Florida native said. “Then I went to 23rd and now I'm back to third.

“I was having fun out there (at Bermuda Dunes). It's more fun with the amateurs. You talk to them, you're having fun, goofing around. Today, I just talked to my guys the whole time, and I didn't even think about what I was doing. I was just hitting balls. They were saying ‘good shot' and I was making some putts here and there, and it equaled up to 9-under.”

Last year, Watson finished tied for 26th at the Hope, but made 2008 his most consistent season since joining the Tour full-time in 2006. His first of his three top-10 finishes of the season came at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he tied for eighth. He placed second at the Buick Open.

Today's finish could be the jumpstart to his 2009 season.

“It should set up good for us if there's no wind,” Watson said. “It's Sunday, so you have to fight through the nerves. We're in position, but with a guy (Perez) whose been playing great all week.

“We want to see some good golf. We want to play some great golf, so it does set up good for me.”

Watson said since there's been 11-under par scores at Palmer this week and another few players posting 10 under, there's an outside chance to reach that magical 59 that David Duval shot 10 years ago on the final day to win.

“If there's no wind, there will be some 9, 10s and it could go silly low,” he said. “A 59 could creep in. It would be hard to shoot 59 because the last round feels like a different golf tournament. You don't have four other rounds to make up what you messed up.

“It's going to be more fans. Everybody is going to be in one area, so it's going to be bunched. It's going to be a different feel because it's a real golf tournament now because it's the last day, trying to win a golf tournament.”