World number two Phil Mickelson is hoping to salvage a major-less season starting this week with success in the FedEx Cup.
Mickelson tees off on Thursday in The Barclays at Ridgewood Country Club, the first of four FedEx Cup play-off events that culminates at the end of September.
"I think that The Players Championship and the FedExCup have enough credibility to offset a season if you were to do well in those events, and not win a major," Mickelson said on Wednesday.
"But still, the majors have had that sense of history that is hard to replace in just two years. But still I think anybody that does well and plays well in the FedExCup and wins the FedExCup, I think that would ease anything if they didn't play well in the majors."
The field begins with the 144-player Barclays and the field is reduced from event to event based on the closing FedEx points standings until the 30 top players shoot it out at East Lake for The Tour Championship.
With no alternates allowed, that starting line-up, already missing world number one Tiger Woods through injury among others, was reduced to 135 golfers on Wednesday when Bob Tway became the latest player to withdraw in order to caddy for his son Kevin, who reached the last 32 of the US Amateur Championship at Pinehurst.
After threatening the lead on the final day of the PGA at Oakland Hills two weeks ago before finishing with a tie for seventh, Mickelson said he had been working on his game and spending some valuable time with his family ahead of a six-week stretch that will include the Ryder Cup as well as the FedEx Cup.
He said: "I spent last week working on short game, trying to get that sharp. I played some golf back home, spent some time with my family and kids and took them on dates. I had a great week.
"I'm excited about the next six weeks. We as a family know they are going to be difficult because we play five of them and they are stressful; with the Ryder Cup being a stressful yet fun week and the kids are not with us.
"The next few weeks are going to be tough. They start school in the middle of this. But, it's also the end. It's the end of the season."