David Toms, sidelined for more than a month by a back injury, seized a one-shot lead on Thursday in the first round of the $6.4-million Wachovia Championship.

Toms, the 2003 winner of this event, picked up four shots on his outward nine en route to a five-under 67 in favorable morning conditions.

"It does feel good to play solid golf again," said Toms, whose nearest rivals were Phil Mickelson and Jason Bohn.

Former Masters champion Zach Johnson was among a large group two shots back.

"It gives me a little bit of confidence. I hit a lot of great shots today, so it wasn't like it was a fluke round. If I would have hit my driver better, I could have had a great round, because I hit a lot of great iron shots."

Toms, a three-time US Ryder Cup player, took a month off before the Masters to rest his injured back. He said it was much improved.

"I've got a couple of deteriorated disks and from time to time my back just locks up to where I can't really move at all," he said. "If I was 25 and in perfect shape it wouldn't be that big a deal, but I'm not either of those. The condition I have, my father has the same thing, and my grandfather has the same thing."

Toms said he would cut his schedule if he couldn't regain the form that brought him 12 US Tour victories, including a major title, from 1997-2006.

"I'm secure enough to where if I'm not having fun playing and feel like it's a struggle physically, then I won't continue to do it full-time," he said.

Bohn and Mickelson, who both posted 68, also played in the morning.

Mickelson nabbed five birdies, as well as a great bogey at the 18th - his ninth hole of the day.

He pulled his second shot at the par-four hole into the creek left of the green. After taking a penalty stroke, he pitched to eight feet and sank the putt to drop only one stroke.

"Even though it was a bogey putt, you can afford to lose a shot around this course, but you don't want to have huge mistakes like doubles," he said. "To make that up-and-down was a big one.

"It was a good day. It's good to see some positive results from the time I spent the last couple of weeks."

Mickelson was particularly happy with his putting, having added an inch to his putter in a bid to make up for what he claims is his increased height.

"Not only did I make a lot (of putts), but the ones I missed were tracking and coming close to the edges," he said.

Bohn, too, has battled injury, missing the second half of last year with a rib injury that he suffered during the Memorial tournament.

"I'm 100 percent healthy now and still trying to shake a little rust off my game, so it's either Jekyll or Hyde right now. I play well or don't play so well."