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Adam Scott will miss the upcoming Australian summer of golf events in an overhaul of his international schedule he hopes will pave the way for a return to career-best form next year.

The former world No.1 has been a staunch supporter of the Australian tournaments, having missed just one summer schedule since 2000.

That was in 2008 when a knee injury forced a premature end to Scott's season.

After becoming the first Australian to win the Masters at Augusta in 2013, Scott returned home on a green jacket tour and won the Australian Masters and PGA titles.

But after missing selection in Australia's two-man team for this year's World Cup in Melbourne, Scott has decided to sit out the Australian Open and PGA Championship.

World No.40 Scott believes shutting his 2018 season down early and restarting at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January is a schedule change he needs to recapture winning form.

"It is a bit of a strange feeling to think I won't be playing down there, because I have enjoyed it for so many years," Scott told AAP.

"Not playing in the World Cup was an opportunity I had to take to give myself a break.

"I hope I'm not letting too many people down, but I feel (Australian fans) deserve an explanation, because they have supported me so well throughout my career."

Scott enjoyed a solid 2018 campaign on the US PGA Tour, with chances to win the US PGA Championship and the first event of the FedEx Cup play-offs among three top-10s and eight top-25s.

But he is hungry to end a winless drought that stretches back to March 2016.

"I have very high expectations of myself; this year was a transition back into form and I take positives from teeing off on Sunday at the British Open and PGA Championship with a good chance to win," Scott said.

"I played some great golf during the (American) summer but when the play-offs came around, I was running out of gas."

Playing the Australian summer events each year has prompted Scott to rest during December and January, typically starting his US Tour season in February.

But with the US Tour's wrap-around season beginning each October, it leaves Scott playing catch up on the season-long FedEx Cup standings and world rankings.

The 38-year-old will contest US Tour's Asian swing events in October before restarting his American season in Hawaii for the first time since 2016 - when Scott bagged a runner-up and two US Tour victories only weeks later.

"Hopefully I can get myself into a strong position from the Asia events and have freedom to use my schedule to focus on the 2019 majors and the Players Championship," Scott said.

The Queenslander confirmed he will return to the play the Australian summer in 2019, when the Presidents Cup will be held at Royal Melbourne with Tiger Woods and Ernie Els as opposing captains.

"There's no doubt I'm looking forward to getting back (to Australia) next year," Scott said.

Englishman Oliver Fisher has carded the first sub-60 round in European Tour history with an incredible 12-under-par 59 on day two of the Portugal Masters.

The 30-year-old even had a birdie putt on the 18th for a 58 which would have equalled the lowest round in professional golf.

Fisher missed that but completed his par to write his name in the European Tour record books.

He bagged 10 birdies and an eagle without a single dropped shot as he soared to the top of the leaderboard.

Since the formation of the European Tour in 1972 there have been 19 rounds of 60.

"It feels great," said Fisher, whose opening round on the Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, was a pedestrian level-par 71.

"I started off with three straight birdies and then kept it going. I'm just pleased that I two-putted there from 40-foot on the last. It was a great day.

"It was fun, I tried to enjoy it and thankfully I got over the line."

London-based Fisher's previous claim to fame on the European Tour was winning the Czech Open in 2011 -- his only title.

While not unheard of, sub-60 rounds are extremely rare in professional golf.

Al Geiberger was the first player to do it on the PGA Tour with a 13-under 59 at the Memphis Classic in 1977 while Chip Beck also carded a 59 at the Las Vegas International in 1991.

Since David Duval also managed a 59 at the Bob Hope Classic 19 years ago there have been five more 59s and a PGA record 58 put together by current US. Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk.

Furyk, who also has a 59 to his name, carded his 58 in 2016 at the Travelers Championship.

American Brandt Snedeker scored a 59 this year on the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship.

Jason Day admits he is hungry to return to golf's spotlight after taking a back seat to a vintage Tiger Woods on day one at the Tour Championship.

Day went unnoticed during a solid two-under-par 68 at the US PGA Tour's season finale, which left the Australian three shots back of co-leaders Woods and Rickie Fowler (65) at five under.

Gary Woodland (66) is third at four under.

Woods sent the Atlanta crowds wild when he reached the par-5 18th in two shots at East Lake Golf Club before draining a 27-foot eagle putt.

"I heard the roar from the seventh tee," Day told AAP.

Day entered the final event of the $US67 million FedEx Cup playoffs series with little fanfare due to a lacklustre past few months.

The former world No.1 kicked off his year with two early US Tour victories but has had just one top-10 result since May.

Although it affords the Queenslander less pressure as he attempts an unlikely shot at the $US10 million FedEx Cup title this week, it's not a position he enjoys.

"It's kind of nice to be able to fly under the radar but I don't want to. I'd much rather be in the spotlight," Day said.

Day's fellow Queenslander Cameron Smith carded an even-par 70, while Marc Leishman is three over after he signed for a 73.

Although eight shots off the pace, Leishman is confident of clawing his way back up the leaderboard during the next three rounds.

"I feel like I'm playing well, I just can't put it all together and it is frustrating," Leishman said.

"But I know good scores are right there; I won't be giving up on this tournament just yet because there is still plenty of FedEx points and money to play for."

Tiger Woods has boosted hopes of capping his remarkable comeback season with a victory after a vintage performance launched him to a share of the Tour Championship lead.

On day one of the final event of the US PGA Tour season, Woods sent fans into a frenzy when he reached the par-5 18th in two shots at East Lake Golf Club before draining a 27-foot eagle putt to post a five-under-par 65.

"Yeah, 18 was nice. I hammered that drive up the left side," Woods said on Thursday.

"I hit five wood into the green and I knew it was good so I started walking after it."

Woods sits atop the leaderboard in Atlanta at five under alongside Rickie Fowler (65), while Gary Woodland (66) is third at four under.

Woods, who owns two Tour Championship titles and the tournament's scoring record (257), opened his round with a bogey.

But the 42-year-old fought back with two front-nine birdies.

He then turned it up on the back nine, with birdies at the 12th and 14th holes setting the stage for his final-hole eagle.

"I hit so many quality shots all day, whether it was tee-to-green or putts," Woods said.

"I didn't really mis-hit a single shot and I felt I had a lot of control. The only hard part was getting my speed on the greens."

Since returning officially to the US Tour in January after having spinal fusion surgery last year, Woods' 17 events have yielded two runner-up finishes among six top 10s and 11 top 25s.

"A win would just enhance my year," Woods said.

"My objective this year was to win a golf tournament and I have given myself plenty of looks at doing it."

Jason Day leads the three-man Australian contingent and he sits two under the card courtesy of a solid 68.

Fellow Queenslander Cameron Smith carded an even-par 70, while Marc Leishman is three over after he signed for a 73.

The Tour Championship is a 30-man tournament and the final event of the FedEx Cup play-offs.

Australian Cameron Smith believes all the pressure is on the FedEx Cup heavyweights as he attempts to bag a near $US12 million ($A17 million) payday at this week's Tour Championship.

The 25-year-old will make his debut at the 30-man finale at Atlanta's East Lake Golf Club on Thursday, where the top-five seeds on the standings can automatically claim the FedEx Cup with a Tour Championship victory.

Smith will fly under the radar at East Lake but at 10th on the FedEx standings, courtesy of consecutive third-place results in the opening two playoffs events, remains well within reach of winning the lot.

A FedEx Cup title for Smith would require him to win the Tour Championship and have a perfect storm of results from the top-five seeds, starting with top-ranked Bryson DeChambeau finishing in a three-way tie for fourth or worse.

While Smith would secure a $US10 million bonus if he was to pull off the inconceivable and become the first Australian to win the title, he would also bank $US1.6 million for the tournament.

"It's been my main goal all year to make the Tour Championship and I'm in with half a chance (in the FedEx) as well which is even better," Smith told AAP.

"Personally, I would actually love to be a top seed so you know a win here gives you the FedEx Cup.

"But there is definitely added pressure for them because they're teeing off knowing there's a lot on the line, whereas the rest of us need the chips to fall our way."

Smith takes confidence from knowing East Lake has produced winners who lack potent distance from the tee, including Jordan Spieth (2015), Billy Horschel (2014) and Brandt Snedeker (2012).

"It's definitely not a bombers course; anyone can win here," Smith said.

"You just have to hit it straight because the rough is so thick and unpredictable and the greens are firm and fast."

Smith says he is happy just to have made the Tour Championship, whose benefits include guaranteed starts in all four majors the following year.

"That takes a lot off stress next year because you can pick and choose your events for the whole season and tailor it to peaking around the majors," Smith said.

While Smith leads the Australians on the FedEx standings, Jason Day follows in 12th place while Marc Leishman (29th) rounds out the contingent at East Lake.

Tiger Woods hopes to find the missing ingredient in the last event of his injury comeback season and win the Tour Championship in Atlanta for an unprecedented third time.

Having undergone spinal fusion surgery last year, Woods has defied belief during a US PGA Tour season featuring multiple chances to earn an 80th career victory.

Among those events where Woods threatened the leaderboards on the back nine on Sunday include the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Quicken Loans National, as well as majors the British Open and US PGA Championship.

Winless worldwide since August 2013, Woods feels this year he has been unable to fire on all cylinders.

"Well, there's always something missing ... (some weeks) I haven't driven it well, I haven't hit my irons well, I haven't chipped well or I haven't putted well," Woods said on Wednesday.

"I just haven't put it all together at the same time, but hopefully it will come together this week."

However, Woods' season has been remarkable given he was unable to walk for days at a time last year due to crippling back pain.

Since returning officially to the US Tour in January, Woods' 17 events have yielded two runner-up finishes among six top 10s and 11 top 25s.

He amassed $US3,823,841 ($A5.3 million) in prize money before entering the rich, 30-man Tour Championship.

The 42-year-old Woods ranks No.1 on tour for strokes gained in iron play and 11th around the greens.

"I think I'm close to winning golf tournaments again; putting the pieces together (because) I've changed some of my technique as well as my equipment and it's very close," Woods said.

Woods, who won the Tour Championship in 1999 and 2007, is tied with rival Phil Mickelson (2000, 2009) for most victories at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Woods feels East Lake suits him perfectly - he owns the 72-hole scoring record (257) and the event's largest winning margin (eight strokes).

"It really does set up for a good ball striker; for most of my career, that's basically what I've done," Woods said.

The Tour Championship is the final event of the $US67 million FedEx Cup playoffs series, where the leading FedEx points scorer will pocket a $US10 million bonus.

Woods won the FedEx Cup title in 2007 and 2009.

Tiger Woods has gone into bat for his fellow American golfers who declined to take part in the upcoming golf World Cup in Melbourne, asking Australian fans to appreciate the sentimentality of Thanksgiving.

The unofficial US PGA Tour event, to be held at Metropolitan Golf Club from November 22-25, has come under heavy scrutiny since the top 28 eligible players were revealed last week.

Australian world No.22 Marc Leishman will be the highest-ranked player among the 56-man field, with no golfer within the top 20 on the world rankings accepting the invitation to travel down under for the two-man teams event.

Fans were treated at the 2016 edition in Melbourne when superstar Rickie Fowler represented Team USA alongside then reigning US PGA Championship winner Jimmy Walker, while this year's American team will feature world No.27 Kyle Stanley and No.32 Matt Kuchar.

But 14-time major Woods said Thanksgiving Day, which falls on November 22, was a time American players dedicated to spending with their families at home in the US.

From world No.2 Brooks Koepka to No.25 Phil Mickelson, 14 American golfers were unavailable for the World Cup.

"I think a lot of it is dependent on what country you're from," Woods said.

"For us as Americans, Thanksgiving is a very important time of the year for us.

"Other parts of the world probably don't look at it that way, so probably it's a little bit easier.

"It depends on where you're from and other players have different holidays; (for Europeans) mid-summer is a big deal.

"Some of the guys that are going to head down there (to Australia) probably will bring their family along and enjoy it."

Woods and long-time rival Mickelson are set to stage a winner-takes-all $US9 million ($A12 million) exhibition match in Las Vegas the day after Thanksgiving, but is only likely to take a day out of the superstars' schedule.

Woods also needs to be in the Bahamas the week after the World Cup to host his Hero World Challenge event, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation.

None of the country's top three drawcards look likely for November's Australian Open while the Sydney showpiece will also be lacking golf's biggest international talent after being snookered by rival tournaments and wedding bells.

Australia's world No.11 Jason Day has ruled out playing The Lakes from November 15-18 as he awaits the birth of his third child, while neither No.22 Marc Leishman or No.40 Adam Scott are yet to be talked into teeing it up in Sydney.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will play a $12 million head-to-head match on November 23, while the Race to Dubai finale - featuring the European Tour's best performers - starts on November 19.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia was a drawcard at last year's Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast alongside Scott and Leishman, while Day played in Sydney as Jordan Spieth returned to defend his Open title.

But there will be a noticeable lack of star power on Australian shores this year, with Melbourne's World Cup at The Metropolitan from November 21-25 also without any of the world's top 20 players.

In an unfortunate coincidence, Spieth's wedding will rule out world No.9 Rickie Fowler and No.4 Justin Thomas, while Dustin Johnson's brother's wedding will be attended by US Open and PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka.

Open organisers are still confident of adding to an international field currently headed by Americans Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker, with Kuchar's World Cup partner Kyle Stanley a prime target.

Germany's former world No.1 Martin Kaymer has committed to the World Cup and could be another in Open organiser's sights.

Leishman will return to the Gold Coast from November 29 to December 2, fresh off leading Australia's World Cup campaign.

But he is unlikely to compete in all three events given his self-imposed rule of spending no more than two weeks away from his children at any one time.

A regular at his home tournament at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast, Scott remains a chance of playing both but is yet to be locked in for either tournament.

Defending Australian PGA winner Cameron Smith was picked ahead of Scott by Leishman to contest the World Cup and organisers of both the PGA and Open are hopeful the current world No.33 will feature in all three Australian tournaments.

Jason Day admits he will class his two-win US PGA Tour season as "disappointing" unless he walks away from the Tour Championship as a $US12 million FedEx Cup champion.

In a harsh critique of his own performance, the former world No.1 says he expected more from the 2018 season despite two US Tour victories and a runner up among five top-10 results and 14 top-25s.

Despite earning almost $5 million from 19 starts, Day feels his poor results at the majors - failing to finish inside the top-15 at all four of golf's biggest events - influenced his negative assessment.

The 30-year-old also fizzled in the first three legs of the $US67 million FedEx Cup playoffs, with his best result a tie for 20th.

"This year, even though I've had two wins, has been disappointing," an honest Day told AAP.

"I didn't play good in the majors and I could have played a lot better in the first three playoffs.

"I need to sit down with the team and go over certain things so I can work out how to change that (for next year)."

Day concedes he continually measures himself against his breakout 2015 campaign, when he captured the US PGA Championship among five US Tour wins that catapulted him to a debut world No.1 stint.

"I've got high expectations if myself," Day said.

"Even a five-win year, I still looked for ways to improve because there is always something to improve and I feel I can win even more than (five).

"It's a good thing I look at it that way because if you don't, you're not pushing yourself to your absolute best."

However, the 12-time US Tour winner says capturing this week's Tour Championship in Atlanta and having a series of results fall in his favour to claim the FedEx Cup would allow his season to end on a high.

Victory at the 30-man finale would net the Queenslander almost $US1.6 million, while he would also pocket a $US10 million bonus should he pull off the inconceivable and become the first Australian to win the FedEx title.

"Winning the FedEx Cup and the Tour Championship would definitely sway that feeling (of disappointment)," Day said.

Day's mixed results have left him 12th on the FedEx standings at the Tour Championship, while fellow Queenslander Cameron Smith is the leading Australian in 10th.

Smith will make his Tour Championship debut, while Marc Leishman rounds out the Australian tilt at East Lake Golf Club and he sits 29th on the standings.

Australians Marc Leishman and Jason Day admit the FedEx Cup prize pool being beefed up to $US70 million next year will add an unprecedented level of intensity to the US PGA Tour.

On Tuesday, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan revealed the existing FedEx Cup bonus pool for those who advance to the post-season will increase by $US25 million to an extraordinary $US60 million.

The FedEx Cup champion will now bank $US15 million, versus the $US10 million prize from previous years.

In addition, a new $US10 million regular-season prize pool has also been created to reward the top-10 points scorers on the FedEx standings.

The regular-season leader will receive $US2 million and $US1.5 million will go to second place, while 10th will still pocket $US500,000.

"It's a lot of money," Leishman told AAP.

"It's nice that we play for a lot of money every week, but when there's 15 million for the FedEx winner and 2 million for the regular season winner, it will be something the guys will be thinking about through the year."

Day attributes part of the cash injection to a resurgent Tiger Woods, who has stunned in his comeback season from spinal fusion surgery, and Phil Mickelson - who this year broke a five-year winless drought.

"It's always good when prizemoney is bumped up," Day said.

"The game of golf is in a good spot, which I think has a lot to do with Tiger and Phil playing great again."

The 2019 Tour Championship will also be significantly revamped for how the FedEx Cup winner will be determined from the 30 players in the field.

Currently, the Tour Championship has a points reset and five top seeds who can automatically win the FedEx Cup by hoisting the Tour Championship trophy.

The other 25 players in the field have to win and have a series of results fall in their favour.

Next year, the points FedEx leader will start the Tour Championship with a 10-under-par score, while the next four players will start at eight-under through five-under, respectively.

The next five players will tee off at four-under, regressing by one stroke for every five players until those ranked 26-30 start at even par.

The player with the lowest total score will win the FedEx Cup.

Monahan admits the changes are in response to years of confusion in the calculation of the FedEx champion, which has not always been the winner of the Tour Championship.

"Any fan, regardless of whether they've followed the PGA Tour all season or are just tuning, can immediately understand what's at stake for every single player," Monahan said.