South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel made a good start to the BMW Championship at Conway Farms as American Brandt Snedeker established a first round advantage in Illinois.
Ryder Cup star Snedeker opened with an eight under par 63 to lead by one form compatriot Zach Johnson.
Former Masters Tournament winner Schwartzel carded six birdies and a bogey in his five under par 66 to share third place with World Number One Tiger Woods and Americans Steve Stricker and Kevin Streelman.
European Ryder Cup stars Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell, all needing good showings this week to qualify for the Tour Championship next week, fired one under par rounds of 70 to lie in a share of 18th.
Current FedEx Cup leader Henrik Stenson shot a one over par 72.
Snedeker acknowledged his birdie run had come out of the blue, but was delighted to have started the week with such low score.
"It was one of those days where everything seemed to go right in the middle of the round," he said.
"I got off to a slow start and made a great birdie from off the green on 13 that got everything moving in the right direction, and to roll off seven birdies in a row came out of nowhere. I wasn't expecting it.
"I hadn't been playing the best, to say the least, and to get on a roll like that is always welcoming."
He was not getting carried away, though, adding: "I realise it's going to be a completely different golf course tomorrow if the wind changes.
"I'm excited I got my one low one in me out of the way early and can go out and play some solid golf the rest of the week."
Woods was dangerously placed just three shots off the pace, but was not entirely content with his round.
"I'm not exactly real happy," the 14-time Major winner said. "I played well, and I just didn't get much out of that round.
"I certainly wasted a lot of shots out there today. I missed three little short ones in there and then played the par fives even par. That's just not very good."
