American Sean O'Hair, inspired by a putting tip he received from world number one Tiger Woods on the eve of the Tour Championship, charged into a one-shot lead in Thursday's opening round.
O'Hair birdied four of the first nine holes on the way to a sparkling four-under-par 66 at a sun-baked East Lake Golf Club in the final event of the PGA Tour's lucrative playoff series.
With FedExCup honours also on the line for the elite field of 30, O'Hair finished one stroke ahead of Woods, British Open champion Stewart Cink and Irishman Padraig Harrington.
Lucas Glover, who won his first major title at the U.S. Open in June, was alone in fifth after opening with a 68.
"Today was just all around a good round," O'Hair told reporters after carding six birdies and two bogeys. "I pretty much did everything the way I needed to.
"I hit it really nicely off the tee. The ball was going a very, very long way today and I putted it nicely."
The American played nine holes in practice with Woods on Wednesday and was delighted to get advice from his playing partner after asking for help on his putting stroke.
"He's just kind of helping me out a little bit with my backswing," said O'Hair, whose 28 putts included a monster 50-footer for birdie at the par-four fourth. "I tend to de-loft the putter and take it a little too square going back.
"I'm not even close to doing exactly what he has told me to do but it's the key for me to take my putting to another level because... that's kind of what's held me back for a long time.
"Getting advice like that from good players is obviously awesome but getting it from basically the greatest player of all time is pretty cool," he added.
Woods, who led the FedExCup points standings coming into this week, shrugged off a shaky start at East Lake to surge into contention with three birdies in four holes from the 12th.
"This golf course you have to be very patient, especially with greens this firm," said Woods, champion here in 2007.
"It's really hard to get the ball close unless you drive the ball in the fairway and have a short iron in.
"I felt if I shot under par for the day, I'd be fine. Luckily I birdied nine and then kind of got it going on the back nine. I accomplished my goal of shooting under par."
Harrington went in the opposite direction, reeling off four birdies in the first seven holes before slipping back with a bogey after the turn as the rock-hard greens became firmer.
"They (the greens) dried up a bit and I made a bit of a mess of 15," the Irishman said after covering the back nine in one-over 36.
"But I was happy to hole two nice (par) putts on 16 and 18. So, all in all I'm in a reasonable position going forward."
Of the other big names in the field, Masters champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina carded a 72 while triple major winner Phil Mickelson returned a 73 that featured a quadruple-bogey eight at the 14th.
