If there’s a problem with the FedEx Cup, it might be asking players to cram so much golf into such a short stretch. Golf is more about quality starts than endurance, which is why so many players set their schedules accordingly.

Woods is among those who can get away with it.

Scott Verplank already is thinking about skipping round two at the Deutsche Bank Championship. He is No. 11 in the standings and is virtually a lock to play in the Tour Championship at East Lake, a course on which he feels as though he can win.

“I know me better than anyone else, and my body is not going to hold up over four weeks,” the 43-year-old Verplank said. “If I’m beat up and dead tired going to Atlanta, on a course where I feel I can win, what good is that?”

David Toms loves to go to LSU football games in the fall and to play in the Tour Championship, but as the No. 25 seed going into the playoffs, he might miss both. Asked if he was planning to play all four events, he replied, “Unless there’s some way around it.”

“I’d hate to take a week off and not being able to go to the Tour Championship,” Toms said.

Most players try to peak for the four biggest events of the year, which are spread over five months, not four weeks.

Woods said Tuesday in his monthly newsletter he supports the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Men's world rankings Player Country Score 1. Tiger Woods USA 20.33 2. Phil Mickelson USA 10.03 3. Adam Scott Australia 5.65 4. Geoff Ogilvy USA 5.57 5. Stewart Cink USA 5.48 6. Ernie Els S. Africa 5.41 7. Sergio Garcia Spain 5.38 8. Steve Stricker USA 5.12 9. Justin Rose England 5.03 10. Vijay Singh Fiji 4.94 Through July 6

“I need a little break to get ready for the final three events because I think it gives me the best chance to challenge for the title,” he said. “Plus, I want to be sharp for the Presidents Cup the last week in September.”

The tour doesn’t need Woods at Westchester for its playoffs to be a success. He will be at Boston, Chicago and Atlanta, joined by Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els and the rest of golf’s biggest names.

The only time so many stars have gotten together this late in the year was at the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup.

That alone is a victory for the PGA Tour.

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