Fiji's Vijay Singh and American Steve Lowery share the first-round lead at the USPGA Tour Championship in Atlanta after each fired a five-under-par 65.

The $5m event is the final tournament of the 2002 campaign and features the PGA Tour's top-30 money winners.

Charles Howell of the United States was third at four under par with compatriot Fred Funk another stroke back.

Japan's Shigeki Maruyama shares fifth place with Jim Furyk and Len Mattiace.

South Africa's Retief Goosen was eighth, one stroke ahead of six others, including Phil Mickelson and the past two PGA Championship winners, David Toms and Rich Beem.

Tiger Woods, the reigning Masters and US Open champion was among seven players at one over par, along with South Korea's Choi KJ and Spain's Sergio Garcia.

British Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa and Zimbabwe's Nick Price shared 25th spot after shooting a 73.

Scores after the first round of the USPGA Tour Championship (US unless noted):

65 - Steve Lowery, Vijay Singh (Fij)
66 - Charles Howell
67 - Fred Funk
68 - Len Mattiace, Jim Furyk, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn)
69 - Retief Goosen (Rsa)
70 - Scott McCarron, John Rollins, Chris DiMarco, Rich Beem, David Toms, Phil Mickelson
71 - Kenny Perry, Loren Roberts, K.J. Choi (Kor), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Jerry Kelly, Justin Leonard, Tiger Woods