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Tony Finau has been named to the US Ryder Cup team, the final pick by captain Jim Furyk.

Finau, who turns 29 on Thursday, joins Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods as Furyk's four wild-card selections.

He has 11 top-10s this season, including three in majors, and his place was announced after he finished in a tie for eighth at the BMW Championship in Philadelphia.

"I never thought I was on that team until I got that call," Finau said Monday.

"It's definitely cool to accomplish something like this and to be able to play as well as I have under the circumstances, it's something I'm extremely proud of."

The eight Americans who qualified for the team were Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed.

The Ryder Cup team includes three rookies (Finau, DeChambeau and Justin Thomas) and nine major champions (with 31 total major victories).

"There won't be any locker room noise with me," Finau said.

"I can play with anyone. I feel that my personality is just that way.

"I can bring the best out of different guys playing with them, and them the same to me.

"I'm pretty easy to play with. And I'm playing some good golf, some world-class golf."

His appeal is that he makes a lot of birdies, which is critical in match play.

He was paired with Furyk the first two days at the PGA Championship and struggled in the opening round before he tied a championship record by making 10 birdies in the second round.

"He has an unbelievable body of work this year," Furyk said.

"All those top-10 finishes, the play in big championships and the majors, and then his current form, a second, a fourth and an eighth in the playoffs.

"He checked a lot of boxes and made it impossible not to pick him."

The 2018 Ryder Cup will be staged at Le Golf National, just outside Paris, which is hosting the event for the first time.

Team Europe, captained by Thomas Bjorn, contains new world No.1 Justin Rose, along with Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton, Rory McIlroy, Francesco Molinari, Alex Noren, Thorbjorn Olesen, Ian Poulter, Jon Rahm and Henrik Stenson.

Cameron Smith is ecstatic at securing a Tour Championship debut and will lead the Australian charge at the FedExCup finale courtesy of his hot start to the PGA Tour's $US67 million ($A93 million) playoffs.

The Queenslander posted third-place results in the opening two events of the playoffs but couldn't sustain his momentum at the BMW Championship.

A final round 72 at Aronimink Golf Club dropped Smith to a two-over total and he finished near the bottom of the leaderboard at the elite 70-man event.

But it mattered little as Smith secured 10th position on the FedExCup standings heading into the 30-man Tour Championship next week.

After the Atlanta, Georgia event, the leading points scorer is crowned the FedEx Cup champion and pockets a $US10m ($A13.9m) bonus.

"Yeah it has been a goal of mine all season to make it to the Tour Championships, so I'm pretty proud to pull it off," Smith said.

"A lot of hard work I've done with my coach Grant (Field) is paying off at the right time of the season."

Jason Day, who owns two PGA Tour wins this year, has ranked in the top five on the FedExCup standings for most of the year but a lacklustre play-offs campaign has dropped him to 12th.

The former world No.1 closed with an even-par 70 at the BMW to share 24th place at 11 under.

"It's not the way I have normally started the playoffs but I'm still in a good position and, mathematically, everyone at the Tour Championships can win the FedExCup," Day said.

Marc Leishman is the only other Australian to advance to the Tour Championship and although he is 29th on point he remains upbeat about his chances.

"It's been a consistent season so I'm glad to have made the Tour Champs; hopefully my last event of the year will be my best and I can get a win," Leishman, whose 68 lifted him to a share of 41st at six under.

Adam Scott's US Tour season came to an end when a 68 gave him a share 51st at four under, dropping him to 51st on the FedExCup standings.

US PGA Tour officials have abandoned final-round play for the day at the BMW Championship without a single shot being struck.

With persistent rain falling for more than 24 hours, a waterlogged Aronimink Golf Club forced play to be cancelled on Sunday just after 2pm in Philadelphia.

"We've had (more than) three inches of rain since yesterday; we've got a golf course we just couldn't play," US Tour vice president of rules and competition Slugger White said.

With more rain and thunderstorms forecast for Monday, the possibility of the elite, 70-man event being shortened to 54 holes is growing and would mean leader Justin Rose would be crowned the winner.

White said officials were considering a 54-hole championship but refused to commit to shortening it until Monday.

However, round four tee times are scheduled between 7.30am and 9.20am.

"We will do everything we can to play tomorrow and we will see what Mother Nature gives us (Monday) morning," White said.

"If we don't get to Monday ... then I think that we will be looking at maybe a 54-hole event.

"But I'm not going to commit to that right now."

PGA Tour policy states every feasible attempt must be made to complete 72 holes but also that a final round cannot begin on a Tuesday.

If more than half the field completes the final round on Monday, only then would the tournament finish on Tuesday.

But that is looking unlikely with a 70 per cent chance of rain until 11am on Monday before scattered thunderstorms are forecast from 2pm.

"We would (not) start a round on Monday thinking we could not get half the field finished," White said.

Shortening the BMW Championship, which determines the top 30 on the FedExCup standings who advance to the Tour Championship finale, would be a predicament for several players - particularly Jordan Spieth.

The 2015 FedExCup champion Spieth is projected to drop to No.31 and would miss out on the finale for the first time in his career.

For the Australians, it would mean Cameron Smith (projected ninth), Jason Day (10th) and Marc Leishman (29th) advance to the final event in Atlanta, Georgia in two weeks.

Projected 51st, Adam Scott would be eliminated from the playoffs.

If English veteran Rose is crowned the BMW Championship winner, he would go to world No.1 for the first time in his career.

Jason Day knows it will take the round of his life to chase down BMW Championship leader Justin Rose but he insists there is plenty to play for with the FedExCup title still at stake.

Day failed to take advantage of soft conditions during a weather-delayed third round at Aronimink Golf Club - a lacklustre two-under-par 68 leaving him at 11 under and six shots adrift of Rose.

England's world No.4 Rose fired a 64 to take the 54-hole lead at 17 under, with American Xander Schauffele (67) and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy (63) sharing second at 16 under.

Rose can go to world No.1 for the first time in his career with a victory or even a runner-up finish at the second last event of the $US67 million ($A93 million) FedExCup playoffs.

Day acknowledged chasing down a six-shot deficit will be hard at an elite, 70-man field, but sits 10th on the FedExCup standings and can improve his position with a hot final day.

The leading points scorer after the Tour Championship finale in Atlanta in two weeks is crowned the FedExCup champion, pocketing a cool $US10m ($A14m) bonus prize.

"I need to shoot myself up the leaderboard tomorrow and, if I can't catch the leader, just try and establish some confidence going into Tour Champs," Day said.

"Every shot counts; I don't want to go backwards and I want to have a realistic shot at winning the FedEx Cup in Atlanta so there is still plenty to play for."

Meanwhile, defending champion Marc Leishman salvaged a respectable score with a 66 improving his total to four under.

Leishman is projected to drop to 29th on the FedEx standings and needs a solid final round to remain in the top 30, who advance to the Tour Championship.

"I good final round is really important when your season is one the line, I guess," Leishman said.

Adam Scott also carded a four-under 66 to finish at two under.

At 48th on the standings, Scott can progress to the Tour Championship but he will need to finish at least in a share of sixth to have any hope.

"I've got one more round to play but it looks like I'll have to shoot 59," Scott said.

Cameron Smith completes the Australian contingent and his 68 left him at even par.

With more heavy rain forecast for Sunday, final round tee times have been brought forward to 7am with threesomes going off two tees.

A woeful performance on the greens has prompted Tiger Woods to spend considerable time practising his putting after the second round at the BMW Championship in Philadelphia.

A day after opening with a course-record equalling 62 at Aronimink Golf Club and sharing the lead, Woods stalled during an even-par 70 that left him at eight-under-par and five shots off the pace.

Woods is still in the mix despite Xander Schauffele (64) surging into the outright lead at 13 under at the elite 70-man event - the penultimate leg of the $US67 million ($A93 million) FedEx Cup playoffs.

Justin Rose sits two shots back in second following his 63, while Rickie Fowler (65) and Hideki Matsuyama (64) headline a four-way tie for third at 10 under.

Five-time BMW winner Woods was solid from tee to green, hitting 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation.

But the longest putt he made on day two at Aronimink was six feet.

"I hit it just as good (as the opening-round 62) and putted just as good, but nothing went in and that's the way it goes," a frustrated Woods said.

"That round today (could have) easily been six or seven under; it turned into even par which is not what I needed to do (when) everyone is going low and birdies should be had."

Woods implored himself to hole more putts with forecasted Friday night storms expected to further soften conditions at Aronimink.

"I've got to make birdies and try and keep pace; this golf course is playing soft and tomorrow will be the same thing," Woods said.

Jason Day hopes the equal-best iron play performance of his US PGA Tour career is the spark he needs to ignite a FedEx Cup play-offs charge after his slow start to the finals.

Day fired a six-under-par 64 on day two at the BMW Championship - his best score in this year's edition of the $US67 million finals - to sit four shots off the pace at Philadelphia's Aronimink Golf Club.

American Xander Schauffele surged into the outright lead at 13 under courtesy of a 64, which has him in the driver's seat at the elite 70-man BMW - the penultimate playoffs event.

Justin Rose sits two shots back in second following his 63, while Rickie Fowler (65) and Hideki Matsuyama (64) headline a four-way tie for third at 10 under.

Tiger Woods was unable to emulate his storming opening round of 62 with an even par 70 to drop to 12th spot on the leaderboard.

Day, the 2015 BMW champion, hit all 18 greens in regulation for just the second time in his 12-win US Tour career.

The only other round where the Queenslander was perfect with the irons was the final day of the 2016 Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

Day hopes his irons masterclass can ignite his playoffs hopes, following a lacklustre result at the Northern Trust event and a missed cut at TPC Boston last week.

"Man I hope so, I really do," Day told AAP.

"I felt like it was coming for a while because I've been working hard on the irons.

"I think it was a good step in the right direction and now I'm really looking forward to the weekend."

Day is ranked No.1 on the US Tour for strokes gained in putting and around the green and said improved iron play can only lead to success.

"I know I'm capable of low scores but the calibre of players on this BMW leaderboard is so high," he said.

"I'll need to be on my A game if I want to have a chance to win."

Day's countryman Marc Leishman, the defending BMW champion, clawed his way back up the leaderboard with a 66 but is still languishing at even par

Leishman is currently projected to need at least a tie for 38th to remain inside the top 30 on the FedEx standings who advance to the Tour Championship finale.

Cameron Smith (71) and Adam Scott (68) round out the Australian contingent and are both at two-over for the tournament.

Jason Day admits he needs to divert his attention from the $US67 million FedEx Cup playoffs series and focus on the shot at hand after a lacklustre opening round at the BMW Championship.

The 2015 BMW Championship winner sits five shots off the pace after day one at the penultimate event of US PGA Tour finals, having posted a three-under-par 67.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy equalled the course record of 62 at Philadelphia's Aronimink Golf Club to top the leaderboard at eight under, with Xander Schauffele (63) a shot back in third.

Former world No.1 Day, a perennial contender in the playoffs, sits in a healthy 10th on the overall FedEx Cup standings.

But the Queenslander says he needs to keep it simple with three rounds remaining at the BMW.

"It's very easy to get ahead of yourself in the playoffs and think, 'I haven't got off to a great start so I need to perform now'," Day said.

"Yes, the goal is to get into the top-five, but I can't do that without focusing and giving 100 per cent on each individual shot.

"If I do that the rest will take care of itself."

Cameron Smith seemingly hit a roadblock after consecutive top-three results in the opening two playoffs events, struggling to a one-over 71 in scorching hot conditions which combined 38-degree temperatures with 51 per cent humidity.

"Yeah, it was a little bit tiring," Smith said.

"I can definitely bounce back, though.

"I feel like I played pretty good today just nothing went my way; if I hit a half-decent shot it would end up in a bad spot."

Marc Leishman started his BMW title defence poorly, dropping four shots during a 74 which countryman Adam Scott matched.

Rory McIlroy hopes his BMW Championship duel with Tiger Woods continues through the weekend rounds after the superstar duo put on a clinic to share the lead after round one.

Woods fired an eight-under-par 62 at Philadelphia's Aronimink Golf Club to equal the course record and earn his lowest opening round at a US PGA Tour event since 1999.

But moments later, McIlroy also posted a 62 which featured a stretch of six straight birdies to join Woods atop the leaderboard at the penultimate event of the $US67 million playoffs series.

Woods and McIlroy hold a one-shot lead over young American Xander Schauffele (63) while world No.3 Justin Thomas (64) is in a four-way tie for fourth at six under.

Four-time major winner McIlroy says his inspiration to go deep in Friday's second round is to make sure he is in the mix with a red-hot Woods.

"Yeah, it would be awesome," McIlroy said of a weekend showdown.

"Tiger is sort of being a regular fixture on the leaderboard this year; (the British Open) at Carnoustie was a lot of fun with him up there.

"We all benefit from Tiger Woods playing well, so I'm happy he's (contending) and it will be a great tournament if he stays up there."

The 14-time major winner Woods jumped out of the gates after teeing off the 10th hole, bagging three birdies in his first four holes before a stunning second shot from 242 yards into the par-5 16th hole.

He drained the five-foot eagle putt and then added birdies at the 18th (his ninth), first and seventh before his first mistake of the day led to a bogey at the par-3 eighth.

But 42-year-old Woods bounced back with a birdie at the par-5 ninth and is confident of shooting more hot scores on day two, when tee times will be brought forward due to thunderstorms.

"You definitely could do it ... the fairways are wide and the greens are soft and it's really not that long a golf course right now," Woods said.

"There are a lot of wedges (into greens) and you can give yourself at least 10, 12 looks (at birdie) and get on the hot run like I did."

Meanwhile, the Australian contingent is well behind.

Former BMW winner Jason Day sits five shots off the pace at three under after a 67, while Cameron Smith is a further stroke behind having signed for a one-over 71.

Marc Leishman started his title defence poorly, dropping four shots during a 74 which countryman Adam Scott matched.

Bryson DeChambeau's quirky scientific methods are starting to win over fellow US PGA Tour players with the young American dominating the first two FedEx Cup playoffs events.

DeChambeau has pocketed $US3.2 million ($AU4.5 million) from runaway victories at the Northern Trust and Dell Technologies events, which have guaranteed his No.1 FedEx Cup ranking through to the Tour Championship finale.

The Californian's often-ridiculed methods include using a set of irons all the same length, instead of featuring the traditional half-inch gap.

DeChambeau, who studied physics at university, also individually tests the centre of gravity of his golf balls.

Ahead of this week's BMW Championship in Philadelphia, Australia's Marc Leishman admitted DeChambeau's hyper-analytical approach to golf is starting to make his peers curious.

"I think as far as his clubs go ... yeah, I have definitely thought about it (because) it certainly works for him," Leishman said of DeChambeau, who also won the prestigious Memorial Tournament in June.

DeChambeau owns four US Tour titles since July last year - more than superstars Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy combined during that span.

Three-time major winner Spieth says he is in awe of DeChambeau's relentless pursuit of perfection.

"He's got a way about his game that is fine-tuning to the extreme within different parts of his swing," Spieth said.

"I wouldn't look for anything to change with Bryson; I feel like he's really figured out what he's doing right now."

The 24-year-old DeChambeau is in the driver's seat for the FedEx Cup crown.

Regardless of his result in Philadelphia, he will take the No.1 seed into the Tour Championship in two weeks.

The top-five seeds at Atlanta's East Lake Golf Club are guaranteed the $US10 million FedEx Cup bonus if they win the Tour Championship.

Marc Leishman says his record-setting BMW Championship win last year confirmed a widely-held opinion he was one of the US PGA Tour's most underrated players.

Winless since the 2017 edition, Leishman believes successfully defending the title this week will remind his peers he is still among the world's best golfers.

The world No.21 has backed up his breakout, two-win 2017 campaign with seven top-10s on the US Tour this season, including a ninth placing at the Masters.

But Leishman is determined to rejoin the winner's circle.

"It would be nice if I could knock another one off here and go back to back; I'm sure it would be a great feeling," Leishman said on Wednesday.

Leishman is joined by fellow Australians Jason Day, Cameron Smith and Adam Scott at the elite, 71-man field at Philadelphia's Aronimink Golf Club - the third event of the $US67-million playoffs series.

At Conway Farms Golf Club in Chicago last year, Leishman's 72-hole total of 261 was one shot better than the record held by Tiger Woods (2007) and 2015 winner Day.

"I guess it put me more in the spotlight; the attention that comes along with winning," Leishman said.

"(Most underrated player) was a good tag while I had it, but I'm happy to be noticed a little bit more now."

Leishman led last year's tournament after each round and says his five-shot win vanquished demons from the previous week's FedEx Cup playoffs event in Boston.

At TPC Boston, he held a two-stroke lead going into the back-nine of the final round only to stumble and hand Justin Thomas the title.

"Sunday (at BMW) was probably one of the hardest rounds of golf I've ever played because I had left Boston really disappointed," Leishman said.

"I was very determined not to (collapse) again; to play well enough to enjoy (the win) walking up the last hole was probably the most satisfying thing.

"I distinctly remember walking up to the (18th) green; Audrey and my three kids were all there and the looks on their faces was just unbelievable.

"That gave me goosebumps."

Leishman sits 22nd on the FedEx standings and is all but assured of remaining inside the top 30 who advance to the Tour Championship playoffs finale in two weeks.

The leading points scorer after the Tour Championship is crowned as the FedEx Cup champion and pockets a $US10-million ($A14 million) bonus prize.