Luke Donald moved a step closer to a FedEx Cup-Race to Dubai double as Keegan Bradley established a two shot lead at the end of the first round of the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Bradley finished with a six under par 64 to sit two ahead of Donald, Jason Dufner and Chez Reavie in the final event of the US PGA Tour season.
Any one of a number of players can win the US $10,000,000 bonus decided on an accumulated points system at FedEx events during the season, with Donald projected to come out top after the first round at the East Lake Golf Club.
Bradley sank seven birdies, including four in six holes on the back nine, as well as a bogey on the par four eighth.
And the US PGA Champion is relieved to focus on golf again rather than talk of the FedEx Cup.
He said: It's nice to get back to play golf again.
"There's been a nice separation to the PGA and it's nice to kind of not have to worry about anything else but playing golf."
Donald carded a birdie on the first hole before immediately undoing his good work by hitting a bogey on the second.
However, the Englishman sank a further four birdies for a four under par 66 as did Dufner.
Reavie, though, had an inconsistent round which saw him suffer a double bogey at the par four seventh as well as one further bogey, but also sink seven birdies.
There was a five-way tie for fifth, one shot further adrift.
Hunter Mahan would have found himself higher up the leaderboard but for two bogeys in the final five holes to go with his five birdies.
Charles Howell III enjoyed a consistent round with three birdies, including one on the 18th to conclude his first round with a flourish.
Adam Scott enjoyed a successful end to his round with birdies at the final two holes out of four in total to add to a bogey on the fifth.
Jason Day overcame a bogey on the second to sink four birdies while Matt Kuchar posted birdies on the 15th and 16th to make up the quintet.
There was a six-way tie for tenth comprising Brandt Snedeker, Aaron Baddeley, Bill Haas, Steve Stricker, KJ Choi and Phil Mickelson.
Justin Rose, winner of last weekend's BMW Championship, had four birdies and three bogeys to post a one under par 69 as did Webb Simpson - who led the FedEx Cup coming into the event.
