Injured Mickelson says the best is ahead of him, whether it be this week or later

The winner will get $10 million in deferred payments. Mickelson said he'd like to see something more dramatic, like a big brick of cash laid out on the 18th green, sort of like they do at the World Series of Poker.

"I think it would be cool," he said. "But it's just me. I don't know."

Some might say all this talk about the playoffs seems premature with "Glory's Last Shot" bearing down on what will turn out to be the toughest field in golf this season, with 97 of the top 100 in the world ranking.

For Mickelson, a win at the PGA Championship -- which is run by the PGA of America, not the PGA Tour -- would make him one of only five players to record a major victory in four consecutive years. Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen are the others.

Of course, according to Mickelson, he should already be on that list.

"I'd love to double up and win two," Mickelson said. "But that's just -- we look at The Players a little differently. That was one of the biggest events that I was gunning for."

The Players debate was once reserved for March, but now takes place in May. That's the event's new spot on the schedule, during which Finchem and the PGA Tour trot out their biggest tournament, with a $9 million purse and another of the toughest fields in golf, and say that one should be considered a major, too.

Mickelson won The Players this year, marking his second victory and fifth top-five of the season and giving indications that his meltdown on the final hole of the U.S. Open at Winged Foot last year could really be behind him.

Shortly after that, though, he got hurt practicing out of the rough for the U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Nothing has been the same since.

The good news for Mickelson fans is he insists he'll be fully motivated even after this week is over. Often in the past, he has shut things down -- mentally, if not physically -- after the last shot at the PGA.

"I missed some tournaments in the middle of the year," Mickelson said. "I hadn't played to the level that I expect. My desire is much higher at this point in the year than it has been in past years. I am looking forward and wanting to play more competitive golf."

How competitive will he be this week?

Seems like anybody's guess.

"I think going into the FedEx Cup, I should be 100 percent," he said. "But I feel close to 100 percent this week."

If not, he'll always have The Players.