Simpson shoots stunning 63 at Sea Island

Webb Simpson took a step towards top spot on the PGA Tour's money list by shooting a seven-under-par 63 to share the lead in the first round of the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island.

Simpson only needs to tie for 15th to take over in first place and come close to dethroning England's current world number one Luke Donald, who is not playing in the tournament.

Simpson fired eight birdies in his first-round 63 to sit alongside rookie Zack Miller in leading by one shot from fellow Americans Scott McCarron, Billy Horschel and Martin Piller.

Simpson would have led by more had he not shot his only bogey on the par-four 18th.

He told pgatour.com: "There's no way I can play this golf tournament without thinking about the money title.

"I'm thinking about it every day. But I'm not over every shot thinking 'this is for the money title.' It's more that I'm just trying my best to get focused on winning the golf tournament."

Miller was a late finisher but did enough to put himself right up there alongside Simpson. He produced an excellent bogey-free round featuring five birdies and a brilliant eagle on the 15th to deservedly put himself at the top.

McCarron led the chasing pack having recovered well after bogeying the first and fourth, a run of four consecutive birdies from the seventh helping lift him into contention, while Horschel shot seven birdies and also bogeyed the fourth.

Sweden's Richard Johnson, the leading European, threatened for much of the round but bogeys on the 15th and 17th forced him to settle for an early share of fourth place.

Among those also shooting first-round 65s were Argentina's bogey-less Angel Cabrera, New Zealander Nick O'Hern and American pair Ben Crane and Zack Miller.

Another Swede, Henrik Stenson, sat three shots off the early leader after a first-round 66. Former Open winner Louis Oosthuizen threatened to move up the leaderboard as he stood four under par after 12 holes.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell had an up-and-down round of 70 featuring two double bogeys but a superb eagle on the par-four fifth.