Kirk & Horschel Off to Great Starts at Tour Championship


Two of the three winners in the 2014 FedEx Cup Playoffs, Chris Kirk and Billy Horschel, continued their outstanding play in the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.

Kirk, the winner of the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston two weeks ago, and Horschel, who won last week's BMW Championship in Denver, each posted 4-under 66s at East Lake Golf Club to sit atop the leaderboard following the first round of the $8 million event.

Kirk and Horschel came to Georgia ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the FedEx Cup. If either wins the Tour Championship he'll take home the $10 million bonus that goes to the overall Cup winner.

Only the top-30 players in the Playoffs qualified for the Tour Championship. Because No. 30 Dustin Johnson is on indefinite leave, only 29 players teed it up Thursday in Atlanta.

"I hit it pretty solid all-around today," Kirk said during a TV interview. Horschel was also pleased with his outing. "I'm just in the mindset that I'm going to find some way to put a good round together."

Both players carded four birdies and 14 pars for their 66s.

One stroke back sit Americans Patrick Reed, Jim Furyk and Bubba Watson along with Australia's Jason Day. Watson came into the Tour Championship ranked third in the points' standings.

Tied for seventh following 68s are Americans Cameron Tringale, Zach Johnson, Bill Haas and Matt Kuchar. Haas won the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup in 2011.

Tied for 11th after opening with 69s are Americans Ryan Palmer and Rickie Fowler, Spain's Sergio Garcia, Aussie Adam Scott and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, the top-ranked player in the world who's ranked fourth in the Cup standings.

In with even-par 70s are Americans Brendon Todd, Kevin Na, Morgan Hoffman and Russell Henley, while another stroke further back and five shots behind the co-leaders are Americans Gary Woodland and Jordan Spieth, and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama.

Rounding out the leaderboard in a tie for 23rd after 72s are England's Justin Rose and Aussie John Senden; in with 73s are Germany's Martin Kaymer and Texan Jimmy Walker; 74s were carded by Webb Simpson and The Barclays' winner, Hunter Mahan - fifth on the Cup points' list.

Geoff Ogilvy of Australia got off to a rough start with a 7-over 77 to fall into 29th place heading into Friday's second round.

For all the scoring details, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.