While the US PGA Tour's play-offs system hasn't done Adam Scott any favours, it's worked a treat for countryman John Senden.

The four consecutive play-off series tournaments offer five times more points towards the FedEx Cup and its $US10 million ($A9.96 million) winner's prize than typical regular season tournaments - a system that has played into Senden's hands.

Senden's highest season finish prior to last week's second placing at the third playoff event, the BMW Championship, was a tie for seventh at the Memorial in June with only one other top-10 result.

He barely made the top-70 cut to get into the BMW Championship.

Then one stellar week, a solo second-place finish, and he's up 55 spots to ninth in the standings, playing at this week's 30-man finale, the Tour championship in Atlanta, and within sight of the FedExCup and the biggest monetary prize in all of golf.

So while Scott's achievements this season have included a World Golf Championships title, runner-up at The Masters and top-10 finishes at four other events including the PGA Championship, Senden has been lucky to find form at the exact right time.

Senden's performance last week leapfrogged him ahead of Scott, who was left in 19th place.

And while Scott expressed frustration that too much importance was placed on the four events and not enough on season-long performances, Senden is happy to take advantage of his opportune success.

"I never really got the results I wanted to get out of the whole year, lots of 12th, 13th, 20th places in tournaments," Senden said on Thursday.

"So last week definitely made up for that.

"It's good to feel like I've got out of the year what I've kind of felt like how I've played.

"I know it came down to one event coming second, but I feel like this is a place I'd really love to be and want to be.

"The FedExCup run has been good for me.

"I've always been ahead on points (list) than I have been on the money (list) most years, so the FedExCup system is a good thing for me."

But while Senden is revelling in his recent good form he realises the challenging times also serve their purpose.

"This year I feel I've come out here, I haven't played my best golf but I've still been in the hunt," he said.

"I feel like I've learned a lot from my good golf and my mistakes I've made this year so I feel like I'm improving."