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A final round shootout between two of Australian golf's young guns vying for their first professional win could decide the NSW Open at Twins Creeks Golf and Country Club.

Picton's Justin Warren shone on day three with the lowest round of 64, which included seven birdies and eagle, to be tied for the clubhouse lead with Min Woo Lee, who is also looking to etch his name on the Kel Nagel Cup.

Both are at 17 under with a swag of youngsters within striking distance along with veterans Josh Younger (-16), Andrew Dodt (-14) and Jake Higginbottom (-11).

Warren is hoping to erase memories of his performance four years ago when he led into the final round only to succumb to inexperience and risk-taking.

"I look back at that day and I hit a lot of shots I just wouldn't hit these days, going for pins and being aggressive with drivers," said the 24-year-old, who is enjoying his first full year as a professional after completing college in the US.

"That day four years ago served me a lot and I'm going to draw on that (on Sunday) and know when to go and be safe."

One shot back is Shellharbour's Travis Smyth who added a six-under 66 to his previous rounds of 65 and 69.

Playing together, Smyth and Warren dominated a course that was softer and more user-friendly without the winds and fierce temperatures.

"It makes you feel like you can keep on going when you are playing with someone that's doing that well," said Smyth, 24.

The most dangerous challenge could come from WA's Min Woo Lee who fired a four-under 68 in a round where he felt he struggled.

"I didn't feel good over the ball or over the putter today, but hopefully I can fix that up in the next hour (on the range) and get it going tomorrow," said the 21-year-old.

Also, within striking distance is the experienced pair of Josh Younger (-16), and Andrew Dodt (-14) who played a steady even-par round following his course record 61 on Friday.

LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 3:

-17 Min Woo Lee (WA)

-17 Justin Warren (NSW)

-16 Josh Younger (VIC)

-16 Travis Smyth (NSW)

-14 Andrew Dodt (NSW)

-11 Jake Higginbottom (NSW)

-10 Brett Rankin (QLD)

-10 Max McCardle (SA)

Tyler Duncan has sunk 12-foot putt on the second hole of a playoff with Webb Simpson to claim his maiden win on the PGA Tour.

Playing two groups ahead of Simpson in windy conditions on Sea Island's Seaside Course, Duncan birdied three of his last four holes in regulation for a 5-under 65.

He two-putted the par-5 15h for a birdie, made a 6-footer on the par-3 17th and a 25-footer on the par-4 18th.

"I'm just so happy to be here playing and to come out here and win is just unbelievable," Duncan said.

The 30-year-old earned his first spots in the Masters and Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

"Just so many different things that I'm very, very excited for," Duncan said.

Simpson birdied 15 and 16 and closed with two pars, making a 5-footer on 18 to match Duncan at 19-under 263.

"It played really tough all day," Simpson said.

"It was blowing it seemed like a solid 20 and gusts here and there, and the pins were tough.

"They did a good job of setup, but they didn't make it easy for us."

Colombian Sebastian Munoz was a stroke back in third after a 68.

Brendon Todd, seeking to his third straight PGA Tour victory, took a two-stroke lead into Sunday but ran out of gas to finish fourth at 16 under after a 72.

"I was definitely tired on the back nine," Todd said.

Australia's Rhein Gibson, who was in contention at the midway point of the tournament, faded to finish in a tie for 43rd at seven-under while Matt Jones languished in a share of 72nd at one-under.

Duncan and Simpson played the 18th twice in the playoff, matching pars on the first extra hole.

"I was definitely nervous, yeah," Duncan said.

"I've been working really hard on controlling my emotions and breathing and all that stuff and it paid off down the stretch here, especially this playoff."

Simpson has four top-seven finishes in eight starts in the event.

The 30-year-old Duncan regained his PGA Tour card with a 12th-place finish in the secondary tour's finals, after finishing 163rd on the main tour standings in 2019.

With the richest prize in women's golf history riding on the outcome, Sei Young Kim delivered the ultimate money putt.

Even if she didn't even know the score.

Kim was tied for the lead going to the final hole Sunday at the Tour Championship. The nerves were obvious as she missed each of four straight putts from 12 feet or closer.

Moments later, the 26-year-old South Korean took her place in LPGA Tour history.

Kim made the putt of her life, a 25-footer for birdie that broke sharply to the right and into the cup for a 2-under 70, a one-shot victory over hard-charging Charley Hull and a $US1.5 million ($A2.2 million) payoff.

"It means a lot to me just knowing that I won the biggest purse in women's golf history," said Kim, whose wire-to-wire win was her third of the year.

"That itself is an incredible honour."

Hull made her earn it.

Six shots behind going to the back nine at Tiburon Golf Club, Hull birdied five of her last seven holes, including the last three. Her 12-foot birdie on the 18th gave her a 66 and a share of the lead.

Kim was fully aware of the pressure she felt.

"I was really nervous while walking through hole 18," she said.

"I was like: 'OK, not a big deal. Try to play like a practice round,' thinking that would make me comfortable. Even then, I was really nervous."

Kim won for the 10th time in her LPGA career, joining Se Ri Pak (25), Inbee Park (19) and Jiyai Shin (11) as South Korean players with at least 10 victories.

This was memorable for the finish - and the prize.

Instead of a $US500,000 ($A736,000) first-place cheque and a $US1 million ($A1.5 million) bonus to a season points race, CME Globe wanted to award $US1.5 million ($A2.2 million) in official money to any of the 60 players who qualified for the season finale.

That's $US500,000 ($A736,000) more than the previous record prize, $US1 million ($A1.5 million) at the U.S. Women's Open.

Su Oh was the leading Australian at 13-under in a tie for sixth after she carded a 69.

Compatriots Katherine Kirk signed off with a 67 to be in a tie for 18 at 10-under; Australia's No.1 Minjee Lee faded to 55th at 5-over, one shot clear of Hannah Green in a share of 56th.

New Zealand's Danny Lee leads the Mayakoba Classic by one stroke after firing a nine-under par 62 in the opening round.

South Korean-born Lee was out in 29 at the El Camaleon course in Mexico's Playa del Carmen, helped by an eagle on the fifth, and was 10-under after 13.

At that stage Lee had thoughts of shooting a sub-60 round, only to three putt from 15 feet on the 14th for his only bogey, before finishing with four pars.

"Definitely, it was in my head, 59 or 58," said Lee on pgatour.com.

"I have never shot that score out on the PGA Tour before, so I really wanted to make that happen.

"On 14, I had a less than 15-footer for birdie. Just one of those days I felt like I can make anything. I just gave it a little too much extra and hit it through the break and missed the next one coming back.

"I was a little bit bummed out on that one. But still, nine under is a great start."

American duo Adam Long and Brendon Todd are tied for second on eight under.

Jason Day and Aaron Baddeley are the best-placed Australians, sitting eight shots off the lead at one-under 70. Compatriots Matt Jones and Rhein Gibson are a further shot behind.

He travels the world playing for millions every week but a burnt-out Lucas Herbert says being a professional golfer isn't all it's cracked up to be.

A year after finishing runner-up at the Portugal Masters and qualifying for the British Open, Herbert has revealed why he's taken time out after suffering from second-season syndrome on the European Tour.

One of Australia's hottest young talents, Herbert said falling out of love with the game almost led to him to walk away at just 23.

"Halfway through the year, when I came home from the Irish and Scottish Opens, I didn't even know if I wanted to play golf anymore because I just didn't enjoy the game," the Victorian said on the PGA Golf Club podcast.

"I was playing great (but I) didn't enjoy the game, didn't enjoy the grind, didn't enjoy the many sacrifices that you have to make to play well.

"I just was not in a place where I wanted to make them.

"I was like 'if I lose my tour card this year, I'll happily go home and get a job as a chippy or a carpenter or something like that."

Fortunately for Herbert he secured his full 2020 playing rights in Europe with a brilliant back-nine 30 in the final round of last month's France Open.

That allowed him to finish his season early, even though another decent showing in Portugal the following week could have earned him a place in the year-end playoffs.

"The thought of me still being out there playing, it almost makes me cringe about what sort of state I would have been in," Herbert said.

"It feels like it's been about an 18-month grind out in Europe and it's very nice to get a break away from it and going back to being a 23-year-old back at home and doing what 23-year-olds and hanging out with my mates."

Herbert, who famously slept in the car park at Carnarvon Golf Club before successfully qualifying for the 2016 Australian Open in Sydney, knows many people think he has the dream job.

"But I flip that and say you guys have my dream job because you get to go home every night and see your family and kids and wife and sleep in your own bed every night," the homesick Victorian said.

"Once you leave work, you never have to take work home with you. You get up the next morning and work again.

"And it's pretty fixed as to what you get paid every year. You're not worried about where your next pay cheque is coming from."

Herbert said finding a work-life balance helped him fall back in love with golf and he is excited about returning for the Australian Open in Sydney from December 5-8.

Australian golfer Hannah Green has shot a five-under-par 67 to finish the first round of the LPGA Japan Classic tied for the lead with local favourite Ai Suzuki.

Green carded five birdies on Friday at the par-72 Seta course to finish one stroke ahead of six players including fellow Australian Minjee Lee, Lydia Ko of New Zealand and American Jennifer Kupcho.

Ko had an erratic round comprising seven birdies, a double bogey and a bogey in the final event of the LPGA Tour's Asia Swing.

Su Oh, the other Australian in the field, fired an even-par 72 to be in an eight-way tie for 40th.

Defending champion Nasa Hataoka of Japan shot a 71 and was tied for 35th. American Lexi Thompson, making her first start since September's Indy Women in Tech Championship, struggled to a two-over 74.

Two-time Japan Classic winner Shanshan Feng of China was three strokes back after a 70.

AAP

History has repeated itself for Australian Minjee Lee, who again finished just short of claiming the LPGA Swinging Skirts to Nelly Korda.

Defending champion Korda birdied the first hole of a three-way playoff on Sunday to win the event.

Korda and Australian Minjee Lee both birdied the final hole of regulation to finish at 18-under 270 and force a playoff with Caroline Masson, who shot a 68.

Korda, who started the final round with a three-stroke lead over Lee (69), looked set to win in regulation after a birdie on the par-five No.12. But she bogeyed three of her final five holes to fall one stroke back of Masson before a birdie on 18 gave her even-par 72.

Masson took the lead after back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16 but closed with par on the final two holes.

In the playoff on the par-five 18th, Korda sank her birdie putt while German Masson and Lee made par.

It was a case of deja vu for Lee, who came close to chasing down Korda at the same event in 2018.

Last year she entered the final round four shots behind Korda before closing with a 66 to finish as the runner-up, two strokes shy of the American who closed with a 68.

The win for Korda also gave her caddie Jason McDede bragging rights over Masson - his fiancee.

McDede and Masson are due to be married next year, and Sunday was the first time they had gone head-to-head vying for an LPGA title.

Masson described the experience as "a little funny" but was magnanimous in defeat.

"I'm quite happy to see them win," she said of the Korda-McDede professional partnership.

"I'm proud of the two of them, the way they work together, and hopefully I get another chance to beat them down the stretch the next few years."

Brooke Henderson shot a 68 to finish regulation tied for fourth, four strokes back with South Koreans Sei Young Kim and Mi Jung Hur.

Rory McIlroy has sunk a two-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole to win the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai after a playoff with American Xander Schauffele.

Forced into overtime on Sunday by defending champion Schauffele, who birdied the par-5 18th to draw level, McIlroy turned the tables in sudden death.

The Northern Irishman struck a towering four-iron from 225 yards to within 20 feet of the pin to set up a two-putt birdie which Schauffele, whose drive had ended in the rough, could not match with his 10-foot birdie opportunity.

McIlroy carded a four-under 68 in an exciting final round at Sheshan International, while Schauffele fired a 66 in a battle royale in front of a massive gallery.

The pair finished at 19-under-par 269, two shots ahead of South African Louis Oosthuizen.

Adam Scott was the best of the Australians, eight shots adrift, after a five-under final round of 67. Scott Hend was next best at five under overall, with Jake McLeod at three over, Cameron Smith disappointing at four over and Matthew Millar seven over.

McIlroy was somewhat fortunate to be in the playoff after a poor drive at the final regulation hole drifted perilously close to the water hazard on the right of the fairway.

"I got lucky in regulation not to go in the water and then it was a relief to hit those two shots in the playoff," he said after securing his fourth 2019 win.

After that reprieve, he made amends in the playoff, focusing on a target for his approach shot and blocked out the significance of the occasion.

"It was a perfect (yardage) for a four-iron back into the wind a little bit. You've got to take everything else out of the equation and just hit the shot."

It is McIlroy's 26th career victory, highlighted by four majors.

He has won three of the four World Golf Championships series events, with only the Mexico title missing from his resume after coming second this year.

McIlroy will remain world No.2 behind Brooks Koepka, the American missing the event with a knee injury.

Phil Mickelson closed with a 68, tied for 28th. He will drop out of the world top 50 for the first time since November, 1993 - the longest consecutive streak since the official rankings began in 1986.

"It was a good run," Mickelson said. "But I'll be back."

Patrick Reed pressed for a Presidents Cup captain's pick with a 66 to tie for eighth. He has finished top 20 in 10 of his past 13 starts, including a FedEx Cup playoff victory.

US captain Tiger Woods announces his selections on Thursday.

Sungjae Im, bidding for one of four picks for Ernie Els' International team, had a 72 and tied 11th.

AP

Australia's Minjee Lee is one stroke off the lead following the opening round of the LPGA Tour's Swinging Skirts Championship in Taiwan.

In the event she finished a close second in last year, world No.9 Lee fired a five-under 67 to trail co-leaders Mi Jung Hur and Nelly Korda - who earned her first US LPGA Tour victory here last year.

Despite strong gusts at Miramar Golf Country Club, 28 players managed to shoot under par.

South Korean Hur, who tied for 21st at the BMW Ladies Championship in Korea last week, had a bogey-free six-under 66 while Korda's round was a mixed bag - made up of an eagle, seven birdies, seven pars and three bogeys.

The American's two on the par-4, 15th made the difference.

"I've been so close and it's lipped out a couple of times," she said, explaining her 8-iron shot.

"Finally, when it went in it felt really good," Korda said.

Another Aussie in Su Oh (68) was one of four players two shots off the pace at four under, while compatriots Katherine Kirk (75) and Hannah Green (76) have some work to do to feature in the weekend action.

World No.1 Jin Young Ko is one-over and currently tied for 37th.

Tiger Woods has talked about extending his stellar but injury-riddled career into his fifties after equalling Sam Snead's record of 82 PGA Tour title victories.

The 43-year-old Woods returned to the course on Monday to complete the last seven holes of a three-shot victory in the tour's inaugural Japan tournament, the Zozo Championship.

In his first event since a fifth arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, he closed with a three-under 67 to finish at 19-under-par 261 and win from local favourite Hideki Matsuyama (67) at Narashino Country Club.

"I can still manage my way around the golf course," Woods said. "I know how to play. I was able to do that this week."

Snead was 52 when he won his last US tour event in 1965.

It took 23 years for Woods to that record and his list of 82 wins includes 15 major championships (Snead won seven).

"This is big. It's just crazy," Woods said of his latest feat.

"It's a big number. Unfortunately I went through some rough patches with my back and didn't play for a number of years, so that record seemed like it was out of reach

."It's about consistency and doing it for a long period of time. Sam did it into his 50s and I'm in my early to mid 40s."

"As far as playing until 52, I hope that's the case. If you would have asked me a few years ago, I would have given you a different answer, but certainly the future looks brighter than it has and hopefully I can be as consistent as he was well into my 40s and early 50s."

As the Presidents Cup captain for the United States, Woods gave a clear indication he would choose himself as one of his captain's picks next week ahead of the clash with the Internationals in Melbourne in December.

"I think the player got the captain's attention," he said.

Woods believed his latest knee surgery had helped him win.

"The knee wasn't (previously) allowing me to rotate and because of that it put more stress on my lower back and hip," he said..

"I didn't really know I'd come back and play at this level but the fact I could get down and read putts again is something I hadn't done in months. Something pretty subtle makes a difference.

I felt more comfortable with my putter just because I was able to make a better stance.

"Ironically my back has been less sore. I've been able to rotate better."

Jason Day had a closing 68 to be best of the Australian trio in a share of 22nd at six under, while Adam Scott (71, three under) was tied-33rd and Marc Leishman (71) finished six over.