Ryan Moore and James Hahn shared the lead after the first round of the Deutsche Bank Championship, with England's Paul Casey hot on their heels at TPC Boston.
American pair Moore and Hahn had six bogeys apiece in their respective bogey-free rounds of 65, while Casey had eight birdies and three bogeys en route to his 66 in the second of four season-ending FedEx Cup play-off events.
"It was just some solid golf," Moore said. "I didn't do anything too crazy. I drove it okay, hit some nice irons, gave myself some nice opportunities. The few times I was out of position, I hit a couple of great chip shots to recover and made a couple of great pars when I needed to."
Casey was tied for third along with American B rian Stuard, Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas and Argentinian Fabian Gomez.
"Feeling good about the game," the Englishman said on www.pgatour.com. "I must admit the way I struck the ball today was reminiscent of how I used to strike it a few years ago."
Thirteen players, including Adam Scott and Jim Furyk, were two shots off the lead after 67s, with Open champion Henrik Stenson, Olympic champion Justin Rose and world numbers two and three Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth all among a large group a further stroke adrift after 68s.
Stenson is playing through the pain barrier, having withdrawn from The Barclays last week after the opening round following the recurrence of a right knee injury.
"We're not at race speed at moment," the Swede told Sky Sports. "I'm pretty exhausted, to be honest. The knee was okay, I had a little twitch before I went out but didn't feel too bad out there. I got a small tear in the meniscus, which I'll just have to monitor over time and just see if it gives me enough grief to have another procedure.
"(And I've got a) sore throat, low energy levels and I was playing not even up to average, but a good putter kept it together, I'd say."
World number one Jason Day was tied for 48th following his round of 70, among a group also including England's Luke Donald.
Day released a statement after his round revealing hi s wife had been released from hospital after being involved in a car accident. The Australian's two children were also in the car, but were not taken to hospital, and he is to continue playing in the event.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, now ranked fifth in the world, and former Masters champion Bubba Watson were six shots off the leaders after registering level-par 71s. McIlroy was up against it after a bogey on 11 and a triple-bogey on 12 - his second and third holes of the day.
Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson had to settle for a 75, his cause not helped by a quadruple-bogey eight at the par-four sixth. He was alongside Scotland's Martin Laird.
England's Luke Donald carded an opening-round 70, Scotland's Russell Knox a 73 and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell a 74.
Source: PA
