Lee off to good start in PGA Tour finale

Casey. World No 2 Rory McIlroy is tied third at four under while two-time major winner and world No 3 Jordan Spieth is in a share of fifth after a two-under 68.

The winner of the FedEx Cup playoffs earns $NZ15 million and Stenson, who won it two years ago but is winless this year, has put himself in the box seat with his opening round.

Lee began his day with a birdie at the par-four first after hitting his wedge to 12 feet but then gave the shot back two holes later. He birdied the 405-yard eighth after sticking his iron to three feet but bogeyed the par-three 11th after missing the green. His final birdie came at the 14th when he sunk a 15-footer for a three.

Lee still has a slim chance of winning the pot of gold. He would have to win and hope in-form Australian Jason Day finishes no higher than tied 12th in a field reduced to 28 by the withdrawal of Jim Furyk and Louis Oosthuizen, who is now in doubt for the Presidents Cup with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Steve Alker is tied eighth after a two-under 69 in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship on the Web.com Tour.

Tim Wilkinson is tied 29th after an even-par 71 in the third of four playoff events in Columbus, Ohio.

The top 25 from the Web.com Tour qualify for their PGA cards and top-10 finishes from Alker or Wilkinson will move them into that bracket.