Leader Henrik Stenson plays down Tour Championship bid

Henrik Stenson has played down the significance of earning a first-round lead at the Tour Championship in Atlanta as he bids for a maiden win of 2015.

The Swede earned a two-stroke lead over England's Paul Casey by shooting a seven-under-par 63 on day one but, with 54 holes left, Stenson is refusing to read too much into his advantage.

"It was great," the 39-year-old told Sky Sports News. "I'm coming here with a purpose and trying to play my best golf of the year and I managed to do that so I am very happy.

"It's still early doors, it's going to be a long week and a lot of players trying to chase me down but I got the start I wanted."

World number two Rory McIlroy sits one behind Casey on four-under, and three adrift of Stenson.