It’s a big week for David Toms

Associated Press

LEMONT, Ill.

David Toms has been around long enough to realize that good play takes care of everything. That’s especially true at the BMW Championship, where a strong week could pay big dividends.

Toms, whose win at the Colonial was his first PGA Tour title in five years, is No. 20 in the FedEx Cup standings. He is all but assured of returning to East Lake for the Tour Championship, but needs to move up to have a better shot at the $10 million prize.

And then there’s the Presidents Cup.

Toms is at No. 10 in the standings — the top 10 after this week automatically qualify — but this is one tiny bubble. His lead over Brandt Snedeker (No. 11) is a mere $28,000. That would be the difference of finishing 19th and 23rd at Cog Hill. Then again, Toms is only $15,810 behind Jim Furyk, who is ninth in the standings.

And remember, U.S. captain Fred Couples essentially has only one pick because the other has been promised to Tiger Woods.

Even at this stage in his career, Toms wants to be part of the team that goes to Australia.

“I had planned on being part of that team. I was in good position,” he said. “Then I was hurt for a little while in the summer, had a couple of good finishes, got hurt again the first week of the playoffs and Boston is not a good course for me. Neither is this one, to be honest with you.

“I’m in a spot where I have to play well,” he said. “I’ll probably put extra pressure on myself. But I feel like I have to play well to get in the chase for the FedEx Cup and for the Presidents Cup.”

The Presidents Cup scenario is too much math for Toms. He just knows it’s extremely close with Furyk ahead of him and Snedeker behind him. Bill Haas, at No. 12, is $185,899 behind Toms.

“There’s a lot of guys right behind me,” said Toms, who last played on a U.S. cup team in 2007. “It’s all about playing well. If those guys have a great week, they’re going to pass me. So I need to have one myself.”

PLAYOFF PERFORMANCE

Only 70 players made it to Cog Hill for the BMW Championship, the third leg in the FedEx Cup playoffs. For those who didn’t have good years, they still can make up ground by performing well in the playoffs.

Ernie Els has done just that.

He is the only player at Cog Hill who has yet to register a single top 10 this year. The Big Easy barely made it to Boston with a tie for 32nd at the first playoff event. Then, he tied for 16th to barely advance to the third stage of the playoffs.

The streak will have to end if Els is to advance. He needs at least a top 10 finish to get to the Tour Championship.