ATLANTA -- Min Woo Lee made his first trip to the Tour Championship a memorable one, playing bogey-free on a rain-softened East Lake for an 8-under 62 that matched his career low on the PGA Tour and gave him a two-shot lead Thursday.
A pair of runner-up finishes this year, at Pebble Beach and the Scottish Open, made Lee a lock to be among the top 30 players who get a shot at the FedEx Cup, the $10 million prize and a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour. He just hasn't felt like a top-30 player in recent weeks.
"Very average two weeks the last two weeks. It was probably the saddest I've been on the golf course, which is not good," Lee said. "We're really lucky to be out here and play some good golf to get into the playoffs. It just felt so hard."
There was no such feeling in the opening round of the final event of the FedEx Cup season. He rarely was under stress to make par, made four of his eight birdies from outside 10 feet and wound up with a lead over Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup.
Tommy Fleetwood, who opened with a 66 in his title defense, was the FedEx Cup champion despite not winning all year until the Tour Championship. Lee is in the same situation this year. Only one other -- Ludvig Åberg -- from the eight players at 65 or better has yet to win this year.
The immediate payoff for Lee was changing to a slightly heavier shaft in his irons after his coach felt he was swinging faster than usual. The shaft helped to slow it down, and it worked.
He birdied the par-5 18th for a 62, matching the score he shot at the Nicklaus Tournament course at PGA West to start the year. That was the California desert at The American Express, a tournament known for its low scoring. This one might have been easier given the conditions.
Rain about an hour before the first tee time made the greens softer, and it showed in the scoring. All 29 players in the field were at even par or better, and the course played to 66.7
BMW Championship winner Wyndham Clark birdied two of his last three holes to salvage a 67.
Gary Woodland, back at the Tour Championship for the first time since 2019, Adam Scott and British Open champion Ryan Fox were among those joining the group of players at 68. Rory McIlroy, the only three-time FedEx Cup champion, opened with a 68.
Russell Henley, who grew up just over an hour south in Macon, had 18 pars in his round of 70.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.