While world No.3 Jason Day has rocketed up the FedEx Cup rankings, a host of Australians are flirting with the danger zone of the US PGA Tour's $US35 million playoffs series.
The 29-year-old Day surged almost 70 places to No.39 on the season-long points race following his runner-up finish to Billy Horschel at last week's Byron Nelson Classic, where Day lost to the American in a sudden-death playoff.
Day's best result on Tour for 2017 was timely with the US Open just three weeks away.
Midway through the season, compatriot Greg Chalmers headlines a number of Australians with work to do to finish inside the FedEx Cup's all-important top 125.
It guarantees competitors a start in the first of four September playoffs events.
Following the Tour Championship finale, the leading points scorer banks $US10 million winner's share of the $US35 million prize pool.
Marc Leishman leads the Australian contingent at No.14, while Cameron Smith (23rd), veteran Rod Pampling (35th) and world No.8 Adam Scott (61st) are sitting pretty.
Aaron Baddeley and Geoff Ogilvy are marginally inside the top 125, but countrymen Cameron Percy, Matt Jones and Greg Chalmers are outside the cut-off.
At 167th on the list is Perth native Chalmers, who has missed five of his past six cuts since earning a season-best result of 17th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.
The 43-year-old, who bagged his first Tour victory at the Barracuda Championship last year, believes rediscovering his mojo with the putter will be crucial to securing his first post-season berth since 2013.
"I love the challenge. The FedEx Cup playoffs are a carrot that's always dangling in front of you and you have to believe something good is right round the corner," Chalmers told AAP.
"(Form) can change very quickly; particularly if the 20-foot putts start rolling in.
"That's usually the catalyst for me to free up the rest of my game and I know I'm capable of world-class putting."
Chalmers is confident of getting the ball rolling at this week's Dean & Deluca Invitational at the famed Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
"Colonial favours a good thinker and a shorter hitter like me.
"Someone who can plot their way around because you don't have to be a long driver to score well," said Chalmers.
Other Australians in the field include Leishman, Smith, Matt Jones, Rod Pampling, Steven Bowditch, Aaron Baddeley, Cameron Percy and Curtis Luck.
FEDEX CUP: AUSTRALIAN RANKINGS
Marc Leishman (14)
Cameron Smith (23)
Rod Pampling (35)
Jason Day (39)
Adam Scott (61)
Aaron Baddeley (102)
Geoff Ogilvy (109)
Cameron Percy (127)
Matt Jones (133)
Greg Chalmers (167)
Brett Drewitt (188)
John Senden (194)
Steven Bowditch (228)
Robert Allenby (240)
Stuart Appleby (241)
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