If Tropical Storm Fay makes a western turn after running through Florida this week, it should come as no surprise to Jason Bohn. Black clouds have been over the Mifflinburg High School graduate for the last two years.

First, a rib cage injury kept him out six months starting in June 2007. Then came a herniated disc in his back that sidelined him for six weeks earlier this summer. Now he’s been hospitalized for more than a week on the eve of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs.

Despite all of the physical problems, Bohn managed to play well enough to keep his Tour card and qualify for the start of the playoffs this weekend in Paramus, N.J., with The Barclays tournament.

Bohn played in 13 events this year, making eight cuts — including a third-place finish at the Wachovia Championship that secured his full-time playing privileges for 2008 and essentially gave him enough FedEx Cup points to qualify for the Tour playoffs. But he'll have to watch the four-tournament playoffs on TV, like all of the fans and weekend hackers.

His timetable for return to pro golf remains a question mark. One thing that can’t been questioned is Bohn's toughness.

The 35-year-old played through the rib cage problem to tee it up for two rounds last year with Tiger Woods at the tournament in Washington, D.C., that the world's top player hosts. He suffered through two rounds of this year's U.S. Open, with shooting pain down his back and left leg — just to say he finally played in a U.S. Open after 17 years of trying to qualify.

Then came another break from the game. Bohn said he could deal with missing six weeks as opposed to the six months he missed with the rib injury. The latest setback is pretty difficult mentally, however.

Bohn currently is 94th on the 2008 money list with $866,786. The top 125 on the year-end money list maintain full-time playing privileges for 2009.

The Georgia resident has one Tour win (2005 B.C. Open) and two second-place finishes in 118 events spanning five seasons on golf's most visible stage.

Bohn won't be the only one missing the Tour playoffs. The 144-player field has been reduced to 136 because of additional absentees: Tiger Woods (ranked 1st), Luke Donald (44th), Lee Westwood (50th), Justin Rose (78th), Alex Cejka (91st), Bob Estes (124th) and Roland Thatcher (140th).

In addition to the FedEx Cup playoffs, the seven-event Fall Series starts Sept. 18-21, with the Viking Classic in Madison, Miss.