Golf-Toms takes early lead at Wachovia event

By Andrew Both

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, May 1 (Reuters) - Former U.S. PGA champion David Toms, returning to form after a back injury, grabbed the early first-round lead at the $6.4 million Wachovia Championship on Thursday.

Toms, who played the more difficult back nine first, picked up four strokes on his outward half on the way to a five-under-par 67 at Quail Hollow.

"It does feel good to play solid golf again," the 2001 U.S. PGA champion told reporters after finishing one stroke ahead of fellow Americans Phil Mickelson and Jason Bohn.

"Conditions were perfect when we started off this morning," added Toms, who won here in 2003.

"I played today with last week's winner Adam Scott, who is a heck of a player so I was just trying to keep up with him."

Toms said he struggled to get within range of the Australian off the tee.

"I couldn't get within 30 yards of him but I scored pretty well," said the former Ryder Cup player. "It gives me a little bit of confidence (because) I hit a lot of great shots and it wasn't like a fluke round.

"If I had hit my driver better I could have had a great round."