ATLANTA, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Newly crowned PGA titleholder Keegan Bradley took the lead at the Tour Championship Thursday and Luke Donald moved in position to capture the FedEx Cup.
Bradley, the only major championship winner from 2011 to qualify for the elite 30-player field this week, shot a 6-under-par 64 at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Jason Dufner, who lost to Bradley in a four-hole playoff at the PGA in August, shared second place at 66 with Chez Reavie and Donald.
Donald, ranked No. 1 in the world, was in fourth place on the year-long PGA Tour points race when this event began and if the standings at the end of the first round hold for the rest of the week he would capture the FedEx Cup and the $10 million that goes with it.
Charles Howell, Hunter Mahan, Adam Scott and Jason Day shared fifth place at 67.
Webb Simpson, the points leader going into what is the last of the four tour playoff tournaments, was tied for 16th following a 69. Dustin Johnson, second in points starting the week, posted a 70.
Rain began to fall as the final groups made the turn and when dangerous weather moved in play was halted with four players still on the course. Those players returned after a 29-minute delay and completed the round.
Bradley got his day going by holing out from a greenside bunker at the par-3 second and he made four birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine.
Bradley started the week in 20th place in the FedEx Cup points list and if things stand as they are he wound finish second behind Donald. Simpson would wind up third and Johnson would be fourth.
