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 Stenson, who claimed the FedExCup playoffs bonanza two years ago by
winning this season-ending event, posted six birdies along with an
eagle-three on the ninth hole at East Lake Golf Club, where the
four-event series culminates.
The 39-year-old Swede topped a leaderboard that featured other
international players including Englishman Paul Casey, who was sole
second after a 65, and Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, who shared
third with British Open champion Zach Johnson at 66.
World number one Jason Day of Australia, winner of four of his last
six events including the PGA Championship and last week's BMW
Championship, started with three birdies in a row, but a
triple-bogey at the fifth sent him on his way to 69.
"It was in the unknown," Day said about his tee shot at the fifth
that disappeared out of bounds to the right. "I got off to a good
start today, but ... it's one of those swings, it kind of just got
away from me a little bit."
Jordan Spieth, who dominated the first half of the year with wins at
the Masters and U.S. Open, registered a 68 to join five other
players at two under par.
DEFT TOUCH
Stenson, who has three second-place finishes on the PGA Tour this
year and another on the European Tour, pounded his tee shots, ripped
approaches with laser-like accuracy and putted the lightning-fast
greens with a deft touch.
"All in all a very good day both ball striking and short game and
putting," said Stenson, who relied on his three-wood to keep the
ball in the fairway. "So, very pleased with the start and couldn't
have asked for anything more."
An overcast day produced some late afternoon rain that seemed to
cool off Stenson, who reached eight-under by the 12th hole but
finished with five pars and his lone bogey at the 17th.
"That tends to happen when we get a slight drizzle," said Stenson,
who might have to contend with more of the same as rain is predicted
for Friday.
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World number two McIlroy, who missed a chunk of the middle of the
year after injuring his ankle playing soccer with friends, was
pleased to be in the thick of the chase.
"It would be great to finish off this PGA Tour season on a high,
with a win," said the 26-year-old McIlroy, who stood 11th on the
FedExCup list and needs 'help' from other players to finish on top,
even with a Tour Championship victory.
"Whether that means winning the FedExCup at the end of it, that's
not in my hands. All I can do is try to win this tournament."
Stenson occupied the driver's seat at East Lake as the initial
30-man field for the elite tournament shrank to 28 after 2010
British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa withdrew after
13 holes due to a hamstring injury.
Jim Furyk, the 2010 FedExCup winner, pulled out before the
tournament because of a wrist injury.
Runner-up finishes at The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship
FedExCup events had pushed Stenson into the top five on the points
list, meaning a victory in Atlanta would clinch the overall grand
prize for the Swede.
(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)
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