Mickelson beat Woods by two shots at the Deutsche Bank

Mickelson won the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday to head the FedEx standings with two events left.

"This decision was not an easy one to make, and in no way is meant as disrespectful to the Tour or 'sending a message' to anyone," Mickelson said.

"I've talked for weeks about needing to find a balance between my game, my business affairs and my family."

He added: "Now is the time for me to take some time off."

The FedEx Cup series was designed to maintain interest in the tour at the end of the season.

But despite the $10m prize fund on offer, Tiger Woods rested for the opening event in New York, while Ernie Els chose to sit out the second leg.

Mickelson revealed that he had been discussing the schedule with US Tour commissioner Tim Finchem for some time.

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He added: "My frustration from this past year came from asking for a couple of things in the FedEx Cup that weren't done and not really feeling all that bad now if I happen to miss it.

"I want to have a balance in my life.

"It's been the last three months having no more than two days off at a time and working to do corporate outings in between.

"Our time together has struggled and I want to have a balance there. I'm not really sure how it's going to play out."

Open champion Padraig Harrington also opted to take the week off to rest.

The Barclays Classic - the first event of the FedEx Cup - featured 144 players, which was whittled down to 120 for the Deutsche Bank event.

Now the top 70 players in the standings will advance to the BMW Championship in Chicago, with the top 30 progressing to the Tour Championship in Atlanta, between 13-16 September.

Barclays Classic champion Steve Stricker is in second place in the standings, with Woods in third.

PGA TOUR FedEx Cup standings