With 79 titles on the US Tour, Woods needs four wins to surpass golf great Snead (82) and the 42-year-old is confident he can defy the odds.

Having spent 10 months on the sidelines in 2017 while recovering from spinal fusion surgery, Woods has showed flashes of his brilliant best this year.

He held the lead on the back nine on Sunday at The Open, finishing tied for sixth, and was in with a chance on the last nine holes at the recent US PGA Championship only to finish runner-up to Brooks Koepka.

Speaking ahead of the Northern Trust in New Jersey, Woods said an 80th US Tour title was around the corner.

"I'm close; I have been close to winning tournaments this year," Woods said.

"I think if I keep giving myself opportunities, I'll get the job done."

A much taller order is overtaking Jack Nicklaus' record 18 major championship wins, with Woods trailing on 14 having last hoisted a major trophy at the 2008 US Open.

"In order to get to Jack's record, I have to pass Snead's record; it's just simple math and I want to make that happen," Woods said.

Woods finished runner-up to Brooks Koepka at the 2018 US PGA Championship. PHOTO: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images.

Playing with Woods at the playoffs opener at Ridgewood Country Club is Marc Leishman and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood.

It is the third time Leishman has been grouped with Woods this year, having played alongside him during the opening rounds at the Masters at Augusta and Quicken Loans National.

"I think if I keep giving myself opportunities, I'll get the job done." – Tiger Woods

World No.18 Leishman has no doubt Woods will win again soon, citing the fact he is ranked fourth for strokes gained in approach play, ninth around the green and 27th in putting.

"He is not too far away from him winning," Leishman told AAP on Tuesday.

"Definitely (Snead's record is attainable); his bad shots are better than at the Masters (in April) and he's hitting his irons as good as anyone.

"He's looking pretty good and it'd be great for the game if he does, but hopefully I win this week."

Leishman says his frequent marquee groupings with former World No.1 Woods have given him an advantage, having contended through 36 holes at Augusta and sharing 13th at the Quicken Loans.

RIGHT: Leishman will play alongside Woods for the third time in 2018. PHOTO: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images.

He hopes the occasion forces him to improve on his poor record in the playoffs opener, making the cut just three times from nine previous appearances.

"It definitely helps to focus when the crowds are huge," Leishman said.

"I guess so I haven't played well here at all; so it will be helpful to have the focus of big crowds early in the tournament."

GUIDE TO THE PGA TOUR'S 2018 FEDEX CUP PLAYOFFS

QUALIFIERS

The top 125 players on the FedEx Cup points race after the US PGA Tour's regular season-ending Wyndham Championship qualify for the Northern Trust event at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey; the first of the four events in the playoffs.

FORMAT

A progressive cut through the first three events determines the final 30 players who qualify for the Tour Championship.

After the Northern Trust in New Jersey, 100 and ties progress to the Dell Technologies Championship in Boston before the top 70 and ties advance to the penultimate BMW Championship in Philadelphia. The top 30 after the BMW are reseeded for the finale in Atlanta, where the FedEx Cup Champion is crowned.

POINTS

Once the playoffs start, the point totals increase with a victory yielding 2000 points. Points earned through the regular season are carried over into the first three playoff events.

Points are then reset for the finale to ensure any player in the top 30 has a chance to win. The top-five seeds in Atlanta are guaranteed to win the FedEx Cup bonus with victory at the Tour Championship.

MONEY

The four playoff events offer a total of $US32 million ($A44 million) in prize money, while the FedEx Cup also awards a $35 million bonus pool.

The FedEx Cup winner takes home $10 million and the remainder is divided throughout the list, including $3 million for second place, $2 million for third, $1.5 million for fourth and $1 million for fifth.

FEDEX CUP WINNERS

Tiger Woods won the inaugural FedEx Cup in 2007, Vijay Singh won in 2008 and Woods triumphed again in 2009. Following winners include Jim Furyk (2010), Bill Haas (2011), Brandt Snedeker (2012), Henrik Stenson (2013), Billy Horschel (2014), Jordan Spieth (2015) and Rory McIlroy (2016).

No Australian has ever won the FedEx Cup and four Australians in this year's post-season is the smallest representation in the 11-year history of the series.

AUSTRALIANS AT THE 2018 PLAYOFFS (rank)

Jason Day (6)

Marc Leishman (22)

Cameron Smith (53)

Adam Scott (73)

- Evin Priest, Australian Associated Press