Jason Kokrak looking forward to getting the time to return to full health

NEW YORK -- Jason Kokrak was more interested in starting next year healthy -- and on time -- than improving his chances in the FedEx Cup.

Kokrak was No. 43 in the FedEx Cup after The Players Championship when he shut it down for three months to have hernia surgery. He has dealt with it since college -- a small hole in the muscle wall just above his waist line. He figured he would take care of it as soon as he knew he had his card locked up for the year.

This was no easy fix.

"They had to stretch the muscles together to suture them (over the hole)," he said. "That first week, I couldn't move."

That he managed to play the rest of the year was a mild surprise. Doctors told him it would be at least two months before he could even hit a driver. Kokrak returned at the PGA Championship, where he shot 70-80 to miss the cut. He started the FedEx Cup playoffs having slipped to No. 89, but at least made it to the second week by making the cut at The Barclays. And he nearly made it to Denver for the third playoff event. He shot 66 on Monday and ended his year at No. 73 in the FedEx Cup.

He has a month off before the new season. But at least he's healthy. And he has his card.

"The other option was to wait until after the FedEx Cup," he said. "But I didn't want to have to sit out the entire fall and get behind that early. Once I had my card locked up, I was going to get it done."