Jason Dufner is ranked No 3 in the FedEx Cup rankings heading into the start of the Playoffs next week at the Barclays to be held at Bethpage Black.

In addition to getting married the week prior to the Players Championship, he has two wins, one second place finish, and seven top-10’s in just 16 starts on the PGA Tour in 2012. Dufner has to be one of the favorites to win the big silver trophy filled with $10 million.

This time of the professional golf season gets a little hectic for the top players in the world.  There is such a large sum of money on the line at every event that players rarely can afford to skip tournaments.

The Open Championship that was held in the middle of July began a nine week dash to the end of the regular season that included the WGC-Bridgestone, the PGA Championship and the four playoff events that culminate in the crowning of the FedEx Cup Champion. There is also that friendly little match play event called the Ryder Cup the week immediately following the Tour Championship.

Jason was T-31 at Royal Lytham, seventh at Firestone, and T-27 at Kiawah.  He has also made the cut at the Wyndham Championship this week in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson have historically taken a week off from one of the playoff venues, especially one that they were not fond of.  In 2010 Jim Furyk, was disqualified for missing his tee time at the Barclays, but came back to win the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup. 

These examples present a very strong precedent for taking a week off and concentrating on the last three events in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Realizing that the next four weeks are a marathon and not a sprint could help Dufner recharge and possibly win the $10 million.