Cink takes lead in Charles Schwab Cup Championship

Stewart Cink shot a 7-under 64 to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, the final PGA Tour Champions event of the season.

The 51-year-old Cink had eight birdies and a bogey at Phoenix Country Club. The Ally Challenge winner in August in Michigan for his first senior title, Cink entered the week 12th in the season standings.

"I just kept plugging," Cink said. "I wasn't on with every part of my game, but I was my attitude was great, stayed in the present and just been working really hard on not getting too emotionally invested in the rounds and just letting it unfold."

K.J. Choi was second after a 67. Jerry Kelly, Paul Broadhurst and Stephen Ames followed at 68.

"You don't want to shoot yourself in the leg in the first round," said Ames, a three-time winner this year who is third in the standings. "You want to be somewhere around the top."

Season leader Ernie Els opened with a 69 as he tries to hold onto the top spot and a $US1 million bonus ($A1.5m).

Bernhard Langer also was at 69 with Australian Rod Pampling, Joe Durant and Alex Cejka in a tie for sixth.

Defending tournament champion Steven Alker shot 70. He's No.2 in the standings.

The top 36 players on the points list qualified, with Steve Stricker the lone qualifier not in the field. He has never played a postseason event on the PGA Tour Champions.

After the top prize, the second to fifth-placed finishers for the season will receive $A750,000, $A450,000, $A300,000 and $A150,000 respectively.

Australian Richard Green sits in sixth position in the yearend standings. He shot an even-par 71 and is tied 18th.

After Pampling (33rd in final year standings), the next best Australians in the field on 70 are Cameron Percy (36th) and Mark Hensby (29th).