NORTON, Massachusetts, Sep 1 (Reuters) Colombian Camilo Villegas, bidding for his maiden PGA Tour v

NORTON, Massachusetts, Sep 1 (Reuters) Colombian Camilo Villegas, bidding for his maiden PGA Tour victory, signed off with successive birdies to forge two strokes clear in the Deutsche Bank Championship first round.

The 25-year-old rolled in a 12-footer at the 17th and narrowly missed a long-range eagle putt at the last before tapping in for a sparkling eight-under-par 63, yesterday.

Villegas, playing his second full season on the world's biggest circuit, ended a blustery day at the TPC Boston two strokes clear of Canada's Mike Weir and American Ryan Moore.

Swede Henrik Stenson opened with a 66 to finish level with compatriot Fredrik Jacobson, Americans Heath Slocum and Brett Wetterich, and Australian Steve Elkington.

World number one and defending champion Tiger Woods, back in action after a two-week break, returned a 72 after running up a double-bogey six at the fourth where he needed three shots to escape a greenside bunker.

Villegas, who has posted three top 10s in 21 PGA Tour starts this season, was delighted with his bogey-free performance.

''I putted great and I kept the ball in play,'' he told reporters after taking charge in the second leg of the inaugural four-event FedExCup playoff series.

''I'm really happy with my round. I've been feeling great all year, I just haven't scored the way I would like. But you know what, the year is not over and we can still make it a very special one.'' Villegas reeled off birdies at the third, fourth, sixth and seventh to reach the turn in four-under 32.

EAGLE PUTT He then picked up further shots at the 12th and 14th.

''I really thought I made that putt for eagle at the last,'' he said referring to his 27-foot attempt. ''But I'll take the four and go do a little work.'' Former US Masters champion Weir, hunting his first PGA Tour title since the 2004 Nissan Open, took advantage of teeing off in the first group of the day.

''That was a bonus,'' the 37-year-old said after a round featuring seven birdies, 25 putts and a solitary bogey at the par-three 11th.

''The greens were so good and so fast that I had a real nice feel on them. That was probably one of the best putting rounds I've had this year.'' Players are competing this week for points in addition to an overall purse of $7 million and a winner's cheque for $1.26 million.

The leading 70 on the FedExCup points list after the tournament ends on Monday qualify for next week's BMW Championship outside Chicago.

The top 30 in the standings will then qualify for the Sept 13-16 Tour Championship in Atlanta where a 10 million dollar bonus in deferred compensation will be earned by the overall points champion.

Reuters BJR VP0515