Tiger Woods said winning the Tour Championship would enhance an already successful year on the PGA Tour after starring at East Lake.

Woods made a fine start at the final FedEx Cup play-off event, the 14-time major champion earning a share of the one-shot lead following his opening-round 65 on Thursday.

Former world number one Woods has not claimed a tournament since 2013, though the 42-year-old has twice been a runner-up this season – most recently at the US PGA Championship.

While insisting 2018 can be successful without a title, Woods told reporters a trophy "would just enhance the year."

"To be able to play golf again and to earn my way back to this level is something that I was hoping I would do at the beginning of the year, but I didn't know. And I've done it," he said.

After starting with a bogey, Woods recovered by birdieing the fifth and sixth as he climbed the leaderboard before further gains at 12 and 14.

Woods then capped a strong display by nailing a 27-foot eagle putt to be five under alongside fellow American Rickie Fowler.

"I played well today. It wasn't exactly the start I was looking for, but I made two good putts there at five and six and got to under par, and then from there I hit it pretty good, made a few putts," he said.

"But more than anything, I missed it all on the correct sides. Even the fairways I missed, all were on the correct sides. I had nice angles. The shots I missed were on the greens, all had beautiful angles. All in all, I had a lot of control today."