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In a blow to the 2019 Australian Open, US captain Tiger Woods has confirmed he wants his Presidents Cup players to compete in his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas rather than playing in Sydney.

"I hope they play at the Hero World Challenge - that's an obvious one," Woods told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.

It means there can be no repeat of 2011's Australian Open superstar field.

Organisers will instead need to heavily target International team players for their tournament at The Australian the week before the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne from December 12-15.

When the Presidents Cup was last played at Royal Melbourne in 2011, the Australian Open was also played the week before in Sydney and it attracted a field it can only dream of now due to the scheduling clash with Woods' tournament.

In that Open cast at The Lakes were Woods and fellow Americans Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, David Toms, Nick Watney, Hunter Mahan and Bill Haas plus their Cup captain Fred Couples and his assistants Bill Haas and John Cook.

They were joined by International team captain Greg Norman and team members Jason Day, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley and Robert Allenby.

While International captain Ernie Els says he wants his team to be playing at the Open, Woods is certain to attract his US players to the Bahamas and is intent only on ensuring they are ready to fire when they arrive in Melbourne.

For that reason his tournament may finish on the Saturday instead of Sunday to allow more time for practice after the trip to Royal Melbourne that week.

"We'll see what happens as we have to figure some of the logistical things between now and then and that's one of the reasons I'm here," said Woods.

We've got a few meetings scheduled in today, try to get a better plan going forward, so that we can get the best that we can at the Hero as well as getting everyone here from the Bahamas to this tournament rested, get them prepared and get them ready to play."

The only time in the 24-year Presidents Cup history that the US team has tasted defeat was at Royal Melbourne back in 1998.

Woods was part of that line-up, which was captained by Jack Nicklaus, and bested Greg Norman in the Sunday singles despite the International team winning by a margin of 20.5 - 11.5.

Woods said that American team weren't tournament-ready and suffered the consequences but circumstances were different now.

"It was late in the year and we didn't have the wrap-around schedule that we have now," the 42-year-old said.

"The guys took quite a bit of time off and quite frankly we weren't prepared to play, and we got smoked.

"The Internationals came out ready, prepared, played, and they drummed us so my job is to make sure that the guys are prepared, they're still playing and trying to stay fresh and competitive late in the year."

Tiger Woods has given the strongest indication yet that he will tee it up as a rare playing captain in the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

Woods (United States) and fellow golf great Ernie Els (Internationals) were earlier this year announced as captains for the biennial event, to be held in Melbourne next December.

But 14-time major winner Woods has declared he will accept the role of playing skipper - which has happened just once - if he is to earn automatic qualification for what will be a star-studded American team.

"If I am part of the top eight, yes, I will play," Woods told AAP in Melbourne.

US team standings are calculated from FedEx Cup points accrued on the PGA Tour during a weighted two-year period leading up to the Tour Championship.

Both teams will have eight qualifiers and four captain's picks, with the US likely to feature superstars Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and three-time major champion Brooks Koepka.

Although his stunning injury comeback has him ranked No.14 in the world, a 10-month surgery hiatus last year means Woods sits 16th on the US team standings.

"It's still a year out from the event," he said.

But eight-time Cup veteran Woods has the option to select himself.

The 42-year-old hinted he would remind the team of his Presidents Cup credentials - owning the tournament record for most points (six) won in singles matches.

"If I'm not (a qualifier), it's up to myself, the vice captains and the players (to determine) who we round out the team with," Woods said.

"If we think it's me, then how I can I best serve this team?

"Is it playing or just captaining? We're going to figure that out when it's time."

Only three-time major winner Hale Irwin has played the Cup as a captain when he performed dual roles in the inaugural 1994 event.

Woods, who claimed his 80th career PGA Tour victory in September, is in Melbourne on a promotional trip for next year's competition.

He made his Cup debut at Royal Melbourne in 1998 - the only edition the Internationals have won.

Woods also played the 2011 Cup at Royal Melbourne and said the iconic Melbourne sandbelt course hadn't changed in the seven years since he last visited Australia.

"It really hasn't; it looks about the same," Woods said.

"(Royal Melbourne) is one of the most unique courses you can play; it's so short, so fast and so tricky.

"But it's always been one of my favourite (trips) to come down here because we don't often get chances to play venues like this."

There is no apparent weakness in Cameron Smith's game according to Wayne Grady, who expects him to tussle with Australia's big three for a golf major next year.

Smith defended his Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast on Sunday, rallying from two shots down with six holes to play to beat Marc Leishman by two strokes.

That late surge came after it took just four holes for his three-shot lead to start the day evaporated.

Former PGA Championships winner Grady labelled Smith's 11th-hour recovery mission as further proof that he had the mettle to excel on the PGA Tour.

"He's a good kid, his mind is brilliant, it really is," said Grady, who now runs golf events on the Gold Coast.

"To come back from a poor start and do what he did, it doesn't happen very often.

"He put the heat back on Leish and he'll only get better and better - he's got everything.

"Yep (he'll be in majors contention) and you can't write off Leish, (Jason) Day and (Adam) Scott."

Smith has moved to a career-high 28 in the world with the win but isn't letting it go to his head.

He will play the PGA Charity Golf Day at Brisbane's Keperra Golf Club on Tuesday to raise money for the late Jarrod Lyle's family.

Driven by John Senden, last year's event raised more than $40,000 for the the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation and QLD Golf Foundation.

Wayne Grady thinks Tigers Woods should forgo his Presidents Cup captaincy if he is to play in the tournament 12 months from now in Melbourne.

Woods will visit Australia later this week on a scouting mission ahead of the biennial teams event, to be played at Royal Melbourne between December 12-15 in 2019.

International captain and four-time major winner Ernie Els, who was in Melbourne during this month's World Cup of Golf, expects his counterpart to shoulder both loads in what would be a rare but not unique move.

The American side will likely feature superstars Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, former world No.1 Dustin Johnson and three-time major winner Brooks Koepka.

Els told reporters while in Australia that Woods' drought-breaking win at the Tour Championship in September was proof he could become just the second playing captain in Presidents Cup history after American Hale Irwin in 1994.

But Gold Coast-based Grady, who won the PGA Championship in 1990, thinks it might be too great a task, even for the the 14-time major winner.

"I'd rather him not, I'd rather him just play," he told AAP.

"He can do just about anything - he's an amazing player - but personally I'd rather see him just concentrate on playing and give it to someone else."

Australian PGA Tour veteran Geoff Ogilvy will assist the international skipper while many others are likely to feature in Els' 12-man team on home soil.

Els has already assured Adam Scott a spot, while tour newcomer Lucas Herbert impressed the South African when they played together in Fiji earlier this year.

Royal Melbourne remains the sight of the Internationals only victory since the Cup's 1994 arrival.

"The Internationals really need to have another win, it's important," Grady said.

"Ernie will be a fantastic captain; he's got some new ideas, will build some cohesion and the Aussies will play their way into the team.

"I just don't want to see any political picks."

Wayne Grady has called on the PGA Tour to throw Australia a bone and help establish a stand-alone event that will bring the world's best golfers back to the country.

The major winner-turned commentator says Australian golf is in good hands on course, but is painted into a corner administratively when it comes to finding clean air for its own tournaments.

The Australian pre-Christmas swing concluded on Sunday when Cameron Smith won back-to-back Australian PGA Championships in a field that also included Marc Leishman, but no top-20 international drawcard.

The Australian Open was similarly down on star power while conflicting tournaments and even weddings robbed Melbourne's World Cup of Golf of the game's biggest stars.

Grady won the 1990 US PGA Championship, lost a play-off for the British Open nine years later and has since served as Australian PGA Tour chairman before going into course design and now golf event management on the Gold Coast.

On Monday he helped launch what will be the country's richest pro-am event - the two-day tournament will carry a $150,000 prize purse - to be played at the Lakelands Golf Club next April and raise money to assist families with autistic children.

"We need that one big event here every year at the same course and the US (PGA) tour mainly, and the European Tour, has got to come to the party with it and help us out," he told AAP.

"They play in Malaysia and Singapore and we need to have one down here, they need to support us because we've given so much to world golf."

Thirteen Australian men and women have combined to win 27 majors, while it was Greg Norman who Tiger Woods unseated to become the longest-standing world No.1.

Grady rates both Smith and Leishman as realistic shots to next year join Jason Day and Adam Scott as major winners.

And while he "could only hope" Australia's current crop visited more often, he doesn't blame them for playing elsewhere.

"All-in-all our guys have been fantastic," he said.

"Leish could play a few more, Jason certainly could play more - Jason's a little bit like the modern day Steve Elkington.

"But these (American) guys are making 10, 15, 20 million (dollars) a year, what do you offer them?"

"A long time ago you'd offer a holiday on the Great Barrier Reef - now they all own their own yachts."

Two months after beating Tiger Woods at the Ryder Cup, Jon Rahm won his hero's tournament on Sunday, surging to a four-stroke win at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Rahm started the final round tied with Tony Finau and Henrik Stenson but turned it into a one-horse race with a seven-birdie seven-under-par 65 at Albany on the island of New Providence.

He finished at 20-under 268, while American Finau (69) birdied the last to claim second place on 16 under.

Englishman Justin Rose (65) was another shot back in third.

Swede Stenson faded with a 71 to finish six shots back in fourth place in the elite 18-man field.

Australia's Jason Day finished in 16th spot with a five-under total, one ahead of second-last Tiger Woods, who shot 73 and finished 17th in the 18-man field.

Japan's Hideki Matsuyama brought up the rear, one shot behind Woods.

Finau hung within striking distance of Rahm until a poor tee shot at the 14th led to a double bogey and pretty much sealed the deal for the Spaniard.

"I can say that ball-striking-wise it's pretty much where I want it to be," a satisfied Rahm told Golf Channel.

"It's about as perfect as it could have been today. I played so solid tee to green, didn't make any mistakes.

"If you can capitalise on the five par-fives and the two driveable par-fours, which I did on all of them today, you can have a good chance and that's what happened."

Rahm was part of the winning European Ryder Cup team in September and played his part by beating Woods in the singles.

"That Sunday with Tiger is still the most emotional, most important moment of my golf career," said Rahm, 24, who has been ranked as high as second in the world in his still young career.

"I pretty much started crying when I was shaking his hand 'cause that meant so much to me to play against Tiger Woods in the Sunday match.

"A couple of months later to win his foundation's event, this is really special."

Rahm's victory is unofficial on the PGA Tour, though the tournament awarded world ranking points.

Tournament host Woods finished second-last, a distant 19 strokes behind Rahm.

Rose could not end the year with the world No.1 ranking as Finau birdied the final hole which pushed him to third.

Par or worse for Finau would have seen Rose move back above Brooks Koepka after weeks of flip-flopping for top spot with the American.

Tiger Woods finished the World Challenge on Sunday and headed to Australia to promote the Presidents Cup as the US captain.

It's the same schedule he faces next year, with one big difference. Woods will have 12 players with him, and he could be a playing captain.

It leads to a messy schedule that could affect two tournaments - his unofficial World Challenge, an 18-man field of players from the top 50 in the world, and the Australian Open, which was hopeful of a strong field a week before the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

The Presidents Cup is December 12-15, the latest it has ever been played. Woods confirmed earlier in the week that the World Challenge would be played the week before. Beyond that, details remain unclear.

"There are so many things that are up in the air," Woods said after he closed with a one-over 73 and finished 17th out of 18 players.

"One of the logistical things I'm trying to figure out is try to get where there's like eight to 10 guys, plus four, five more ... you're getting close to 50 people from the Bahamas to Australia in time for a practice round, opening ceremonies and the event. We have our work ahead of us trying to logistically try to make this all happen."

One person involved in the event told The Associated Press the plan was to end the World Challenge on Saturday next year, possibly early in the afternoon. That would allow the American contingent - players, caddies, family - time to take a charter to Melbourne, arriving Monday morning.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because nothing has been announced.

Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent at Excel Sports Management, said he hoped to have an announcement when Woods returned from Australia.

The Presidents Cup features an American team and an International team from everywhere but Europe. There were 12 Americans in the field this year in the Bahamas and two players who are regulars on the International team, Jason Day of Australia and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan.

The Presidents Cup was played at Royal Melbourne in 2011, and 13 players - including Woods - played the Australian Open the week before in Sydney.

Officials announced last month the Australian Open, the fifth-oldest championship in golf, will be played December 5-8 and organisers are excited about another strong field.

"This is great news for the Australian Open and we're excited about what this means for Australian golf fans," Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt said.

Now there's a choice for Americans who are on the U.S. team, and even some International players who live in America. Jordan Spieth, for example, already is a two-time winner of the Australian Open. He didn't play this year - or in the Bahamas - because he got married last weekend.

"The logistics are not great," Rickie Fowler said. "A lot depends on the captain and figuring out what we want to do as a team."

Dustin Johnson, among those who played the Australian Open in 2011, sounded as though he would be in the Bahamas next year. And he didn't sound terribly worried about the logistics.

"As long as I'm riding with Tiger, I'll be fine," Johnson said.

Cameron Smith says he's slowly adjusting to life in the spotlight after defending his Australian PGA Championship, despite the pressure that had come with being the tournament's poster boy.

The 25-year-old has built a reputation as a laidback character on course after his breakthrough individual title last year at Royal Pines.

But, after claiming a second Kirkwood Cup on Sunday on the Gold Coast by two shots from good mate Marc Leishman, he said the past few weeks had tested him.

Smith was the top local hope at the Australian Open in Sydney before partnering Leishman at the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne.

Smith, with Leishman and Andrew 'Beef' Johnston, had been plastered on billboards around the Gold Coast. He will no doubt encounter more of the same if he returns next year for the Australian swing.

"It definitely has been a little bit different this year, a bit more attention on myself, media commitments and other commitments," he said.

"I think I've done a pretty good job of it; I haven't let it stress me out although it has been, not really annoying, but something that I'm not used to."

Australian veteran and major winner Geoff Ogilvy said pre-tournament that Smith could rise as high as 10 in the world in the next 12 months.

It's clear while he might still be the 'other' Cameron Smith in rugby league-mad Queensland, his United States contemporaries will know him well as he pushes towards a top-20 goal.

"Yeah, they'll definitely take notice of him," Leishman said.

"Always developing - he's turned into a great player."

Smith is likely to move inside the top 30 for the first time thanks to his latest title and, after winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans teams event in 2017, wants individual success next year in the US.

"It's probably one of my goals that I didn't tick off this year, missing out on that win over there," he said.

"I still played great over there, put myself in position to win and didn't quite pull it off a couple of times.

"That's just going to happen with competing against the best guys in the world."

Jake McLeod has invited his mates to join him on the European Tour after clinging to top spot on the Order of Merit list following a tough Australian PGA Championship finish.

The 24-year-old topped the list by about $20,000, with Matt Millar's late charge to finish third at Royal Pines on Sunday almost bringing him undone.

McLeod product turned it on during November to win the NSW Open and finish third at the Australian Open to enter the tournament well on top of the list.

The Townsville had been in contention for more than two days but faded badly in the final 20 holes to finish at three under and tied for 19th behind champion Cameron Smith (16 under).

The merit win also comes with a start at the British Open, which McLeod had already earned with his third in Sydney, and invitations to World Golf Championship events in Mexico and the United States.

"I'm just stoked right now. A few tournaments ago, I didn't think about it," he said.

"It turned around quite quickly. You never know what's around the corner.

"It gives you belief and then you just need the opportunity and now I've got the opportunity."

With sights now set on the top 100, McLeod will join a small contingent of Australians on the European swing but has already received plenty of texts from his mates.

"I've got a few going on holiday so they'll have to venture over to wherever I am," he said.

"It's going to be pretty cool."

ORDER OF MERIT STANDINGS

- Jake McLeod (QLD)$255,326.54

- Matthew Millar (ACT)$236,241.34

- Daniel Nisbet (QLD)$225,982.11

- Anthony Quayle(QLD) $202,619.62

- Dimitrios Papadatos (NSW)$197,795.94

Cameron Smith has tamed the early nerves before ousting good mate Marc Leishman to defend his Australian PGA Championship, immediately setting his sights on the world's top 20.

The Brisbane talent overcame a wonky start to shoot a fourth-round 70 to finish at 16-under-par and beat Leishman (69) by two strokes in a Sunday shootout at Royal Pines.

Smith looked dead and buried on the 12th but held his nerve to spoil Leishman's best chance of a maiden win on home soil.

The win should propel him into the top 30 for the first time and give the 25-year-old confidence when he returns to the PGA Tour.

"I'd love to get into the top 20 ... that's definitely the next big step to get myself in there and get myself in situations to win golf tournaments," he said in reference to his winless season in the United States.

"I did feel for Leish; it's always hard going up against a mate and trying to win a golf tournament.

"It's a weird one, but I'm sure we'll have a beer over Christmas or when I see him next and we'll be back to being mates."

Smith started the day three clear but, after Leishman chipped in on the fourth, he was suddenly behind and, by the 12th hole, faced a two-shot deficit.

But his luck turned when Leishman's par putt on the 14th horseshoed out and drew the pair level.

Smith retained the lead on an eventful 15th hole where he missed another fairway and put his second shot into the back of the 16th hole signage.

Taking a free drop from the tee box of the party hole par-3, Smith put his chip within a metre and putted out for birdie.

Leishman missed his birdie effort after a regulation approach to the green and then misread another mid-range par putt on the 16th to hand Smith a decisive two-shot buffer with two holes to play.

Leishman tipped his cap to his junior World Cup teammate but was clearly miffed despite claiming it would only take 20 minutes to move on.

"I was leading by a couple (in Boston) going into the back nine and lost that. That one really hurt, but this probably equally if not more than that," he said.

"You've got to handle those things, make the most of the momentum when it's going your way and try to keep it your way.

"I had it and lost it, unfortunately."

Smith is the first player since Robert Allenby in 2001 to win consecurive Australian PGA titles. Greg Norman (1984-85) and Ken Nagle (1958-59) are among the few others to have achieved the feat.

Matt Millar carded a four-under 68 to finish third alongside English bolter Ross McGowan (11 under), who came from last on the cut line after shooting a course record nine-under 63 on Sunday with nine birdies.