Tiger Woods leads Tour Championship charge with opening 65

Round two
Sky Sports Golf, 6pm Friday

Just as he did at the BMW Championship, Tiger Woods ended the opening round of the Tour Championship at the top of the leaderboard and the 14-time Major champion has been cut to 9-2 from 12-1 to win for the first time since his comeback from injury.

Woods, Steve Palmer's headline selection for the tour finale, has been threatening a breakthrough for some time and, with FedEx Cup riches on the line, he produced a fine Thursday round of 65 to force his way into the hunt at East Lake Golf Club.

The 42-year-old, who has won four Masters titles in the state of Georgia, is joined on five under by Rickie Fowler with Gary Woodland and new world number one Justin Rose just a shot behind.

With the FedEx Cup's top 30 in the field, the leaderboard was always going to be packed with quality and 20 of those who lined up at East Lake are within five shots of the lead on a demanding course where the pacesetters are always at risk of coming back to the field.

FedEx Cup leader Bryson DeChambeau opened up with a one-over par 71 which leaves him projected to finish fourth in the points list. Rose, Woods and Fowler have all leapfrogged the dual playoff winner in the projected standings.

But there's a long way to go at East Lake and DeChambeau and the rest of the field will be aiming to make moves on Friday and over the weekend with massive financial rewards in the balance.

Paul Casey struck his ball beautifully as he recorded an opening 68. Thomas Bjorn's Ryder Cup wildcard pick hit 78 per cent of the greens in regulation - only four players bettered that - but his putting let him down.

If Casey can tighten up with the flat stick he could shoot lower than his twoball partner Tony Finau (6.30pm UK & Ireland time). Finau is respected after a fine season, but there's little between them and Casey is worth siding with at the prices.

Recommendation
P Casey to win twoball
2pt 16-11 188Bet

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