Vijay Singh shot an opening 73, two over par, in the Tour Championship presented by Coca Cola in his bid to top the US Tour Money List for the first time.
The Fijian, an Honorary Member of The European Tour, heads the US Tour Money List with $7,345,907, a lead of $768,494 over Tiger Woods, going into the final event of the 2004 US Tour Schedule. If Woods is to catch him and win a record fifth straight Money List title he needs to win with Singh finishing lower than a tie for third place.
Woods kept his own hopes of the title alive with an opening 70, one under par, to lie four shots adrift of first round leaders Charles Howell III and Kenny Perry.
Retief Goosen is the leading European Tour Member after an opening 69, two under par, put him in a tie for sixth place, one shot ahead of European Tour Number One Ernie Els.
Darren Clarke recorded an opening 74 on the testing Champions Golf Cluib in Houston.
