In the absence of fan favourites Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, former winner Retief Goosen grabbed a share of the spotlight at the season-ending Tour Championship on Thursday.

The smooth-swinging South African fired a two-under-par 68 in difficult, blustery conditions at East Lake Golf Club to set the first-round pace with American Joe Durant.

Vijay Singh, the 2002 champion, opened with a 69 to share third place with world number two Jim Furyk, Australians Adam Scott and Stuart Appleby and American duo Stewart Cink and Tom Pernice junior.

Twice U.S. Open champion Ernie Els, who booked his place in the elite 27-man field by tying for sixth at last week's Chrysler Championship in Tampa, Florida, was among a group of five on 71.

Goosen, chasing his first victory on the 2006 PGA Tour, was happy with a performance that featured four birdies and two bogeys.

"It was tough out there for everybody today and they had the flags tucked away," the 37-year-old told reporters.

"You just felt like you had to hang in there. I got into a nice stride and hit a few good shots coming in. Eighteen was a bit disappointing but we've still got a long way to go."

Champion at East Lake in 2004, Goosen bogeyed the par-three last after pushing his three-iron off the tee into the right greenside bunker.

NOT EASY

"It's not easy going out there and trusting your swing but, in these conditions, to get a good round gives you a bit more confidence going into the next three days," he added.

Compatriot Els, like Goosen chasing his first PGA Tour title of the season, was also satisfied with his score.

"I would have loved to have got it to even par but, at one over, I'm not out of the tournament," the world number seven said. "I've got a lot of time to get a good round under my belt.

"It's a tough course and, with these kinds of conditions, it really tests you. Ball-striking, short game, putting, everything. I've got to be happy with my score."

Much of the talk in the build-up to this week's event focused on the absence of 1999 champion Tiger Woods and 2000 winner Phil Mickelson.

World number one Woods pulled out of the event for the first time in his career on Friday, citing fatigue, while third-ranked Mickelson has traditionally wound down his playing schedule for the season after the PGA Championship in August.

The Tour Championship brings together the top 30 money winners on the PGA Tour.