Success during the Playoffs can pay huge dividends

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Tiger Woods is one of many players who could turn around his season with a good run during the Playoffs.

There are several obvious things on the minds of players as they enter the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. In no certain order, they are:

PLAYOFFS

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• The FedExCup's $10 million payoff
• Player of the Year
• Rookie of the Year
• Money title
• Ryder Cup picks and momentum

Get ready, because you're going to hear a lot about these as the TOUR makes its way from New Jersey to Boston to Chicago to Atlanta during the Playoffs. Headlines. Water cooler roundtables. Multiple segments on Golf Central.

But what about those fascinating little bits and pieces that seem to tumble to the bottom of our thought pile during stretch runs like this one? What about the idea that just being in the Playoffs is often the most important thing? And the potential for a hyperspace leap in a career?

Yes, the Playoffs are filled with guys who are elgible for one -- if not several -- of the honors mentioned above. But what about the guys who aren't in the top five? Some are seriously familiar faces, but others you might have to look up to realize what they look like or how they got there.

But regardless of how they got to The Barclays, everyone has a ton to gain in the coming weeks -- especially with the current rules. Mostjust need to get off to a great start to get in or stay in the top 100 and advance to Week 2.

Pique your interest? Read on. We'll dive into some thoughts about how a little extra over the next few weeks could translate into a lot down the road for the following (and yes, some come in groups):

Tiger Woods (No. 112): It goes without saying that he's had a crummy/disappointing/frustrating/aggravating (pick one or all) season on the course. He's 0-fer-2010 and trying to turn it around. He's close. If he doesn't make something good happen this week, he's headed home. If he does? Win here and he could run the tables, rehab a season and be a contender again in the POY clubhouse. A reach? Given the season, absolutely. But never count him out.

David Duval (120): Believe it or not, it's the Playoffs debut for the former world No. 1. It's been a serious mixed bag for D-squared this year -- a share of second at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am, 11 missed cuts -- but a good start here could get him to Week 2 and then ....

Scott Piercy (125): The last player to slip into the Playoffs. He's got nothing to lose, everything to gain. Nice time of the year to play your way up the ladder, make a name for yourself and -- who knows? -- do what Heath Slocum did a year ago. He's hardly alone. One of, say, maybe, half the field?

Davis Love III (96), Justin Leonard (70) and David Toms (44): Three former major champs and former Ryder Cuppers, two of whom come in with serious momentum and, all, like Tiger, enter with chances to save unsatisfying seasons. If Love can draw on a tie for sixth at the U.S. Open, he could be off and running. Leonard and Toms both played well at Greensboro last week so they have momentum and are likely to be there into Week 3. Week 4? Bonus time if they can keep it up.

Steve Elkington (68): With a berth on the Champions Tour just around the corner, Elk has had a good, but not terrific season. He's coming off that fast finish at the PGA, still has one of the sweetest swings on TOUR and knows what it takes.

Dustin Johnson (11): He's hit serious speed bumps on his major quests this season. He's gotten over them. He wins one of these, has a couple of top-fives and he's battling for the FedExCup when he comes to East Lake. Think that could be enough to push those what-ifs to the side of our minds for a while? Probably so.

Padraig Harrington (55), Paul Casey (27), Luke Donald (22) and Justin Rose (5): Expect to see at least the last three of them at East Lake. And what else? Other than cash and career boosts, serious runs here could make European Captain Colin Montgomerie's decisions on his picks a bit easier. Harrington? The three-time major champ could turn a crummy season into a springboard to 2011 (see Tiger).

Adam Scott (32) and Vaughn Taylor (38): A pair with what-could-have-been years so far. Scott was a winner at the Valero Texas Open, Taylor lost a playoff at the Shell Houston Open. Making it to Week 4? Priceless to seasons in need.

Anthony Kim (14). One run for the thumb? Not a great start coming off the surgery and we know he'd like to pick it up. That playoff win over Taylor feels like a lifetime ago. Staying in the top 30, another step. Impressing Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin, even better.

Bubba Watson (8) and Rickie Fowler (19): They're right on the cusp and runs here could push them to the next level. Raise your hand if you thought Bubba was going to win the playoff at the PGA Championship. Fowler's disappointment of late? Two missed cuts. Momentum could change all that.

Bo Van Pelt (13) and Nick Watney (29). Only Matt Kuchar has been more consistent than these two. So much talent, so many almosts. Watney can bounce back from that closing 81 at Whistling Straits; Van Pelt can build on six top -10s and three thirds.

This is just a start of the interesting storylines kicking off this week at Ridgewood Country Club. The field is filled with them. Sit back and enjoy.

Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM and can be reached at melaniehauser@gmail.com. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.