Aaron Baddeley is eyeing a life-changing return to the lucrative FedExCup playoffs after posting a priceless top-10 finish at the PGA Tour's 3M Open in Minnesota.
Baddeley tied for seventh as American Lee Hodges converted a five-shot third-round lead into a commanding seven-stroke triumph with a closing four-under-par 67 on Sunday to secure his maiden PGA Tour title.
With a 24-under 260 total, the 28-year-old never looked like being run down, with Scotland's Martin Laird (64) sharing second at 17 under with Americans JJ Poston (69) and Kevin Streelman (66).
Dylan Wu (64) and Keith Mitchell (67) shared fifth, one shot ahead of Baddeley, Sam Ryder (68) and defending champion Tony Finau (70).
Baddeley's best finish since also sharing seventh at the Sony Open in January earned the 42-year-old an all-important start at this week's Wyndham Championship in North Carolina and significantly increased his chances of sneaking into FedExCup playoffs for the first time since 2016.
He climbed from 109th to 82nd in the season-long standings, with the top 70 to advance to the $US20 million ($A30.05 million) FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis from August 10-13.
The father of six pocketed a cheque for $US245,050 ($A368,550) and said making the playoffs would be somewhat of a game changer at this point in his career.
"Especially playing out of the category that I'm in, the past champions category, to push my way in there and try and get that top-70 would be pretty awesome," Baddeley said.
"Just so I can sort of pick my schedule. It would be a little bit easier on the family, a little easier on my wife."
Down to No.290 in the rankings, the two-time Australian Open champion admitted his 13-year-old daughter had been writing to tournament bosses pleading to give her dad more starts.
"She wrote to the Phoenix Open, the tournament director there, Chance, telling them why I should have got an invite and giving all the reasons why I should be playing the tournament, yeah," Baddeley confessed.
Adding to the excitement of his best finish in 17 starts was having his wife Richelle and all six children - Jewell, Jolee, Jeremiah, Josiah, Jaddex and Jedidiah - at TPC Twin Cities.
"It's the best having the family here," said the Arizona-based four-time PGA Tour winner.
"And we've also got really close family friends that live just a little south of the city, it's great to have them here and seeing them as well. It's been a fantastic week.
"They probably come to maybe six a year, I'd say, a couple during the summer and west coast they'll come out because we can drive from Scottsdale."
Fellow Australian Cam Davis rocketed home with a 65 to finish a shot behind Baddeley in a tie for 10th at 14 under.
That also improved Davis' FedExCup hopes, propelling the Sydney star up from 77th to 69th in the standings.
