Revitalised Els takes Tour lead

Ernie Els has bounced back from a poor performance at the Presidents Cup to take the lead in the USPGA Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ernie Els has bounced back from a poor performance at the Presidents Cup to take the lead in the USPGA Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia.

The South African shot a bogey-free six-under-par 64 for a one-stroke lead after the first round of the $5m (£3.4m) event at East Lake Golf Club.

"Obviously it was a good day for me," said Els, who endured a miserable 0-5 mark at the Presidents Cup two weeks ago. "I was really quite positive over my iron shots, and I made some putts for a change. I basically played well all together for a change."

Everyone left the club buzzing about Woods' shot on the 480-yard fifth hole. On a bed of pine needles, a tree blocking his backswing and 163 yards between him and the front of the green, Woods whipped his body into a furious spin after aiming sideways.

The ball curved sharply and rolled up just short of the putting surface. He nearly holed the 75-foot putt and had to settle for par.

Woods, who finished way ahead of Els when winning the US Open and The Open, played unspectacular, yet adventurous golf to compile a bogey-free 68.

David Duval, the 1997 champion, birdied three of the last five holes to be one stroke behind Els. Left-hander Steve Flesch, who fell short of claiming his first PGA Tour victory at last week's National Car Rental Golf Classic, had a 66 in his Tour Championship debut to share third place with Davis Love. Another left-hander, Phil Mickelson, was three shots off the pace after posting a 67.

Australia's Robert Allenby was tied with Woods, and the Masters champion, Vijay Singh of Fiji, heads a group of six on 69.

The Tour Championship is open to the top 30 players on the money list, but an injury to Jim Furyk left the field at 29.