John Cook, who finished 28th on the USPGA Tour money list last year, fired a seven-under-par 65 yesterday to take a one-stroke lead at the season-opening Mercedes Championships.

Cook, who won last year's Bob Hope Chrysler Classic to qualify for this elite event, led Nick Price of Zimbabwe by one stroke.

Two-time defending US Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa and Frank Nobilo of New Zealand were tied for third on 67.

David Duval, trying to become the first golfer to win four consecutive PGA Tour starts since Ben Hogan in 1953, is another stroke back on 68, tied with Phil Mickelson.

Duval finished second on the USPGA Tour money list with $1,885,308 thanks to a late charge that saw him win the Michelob Championship, the Walt Disney/Oldsmobile Classic and the season-ending Tour Championship. He did not participate in the Las Vegas Invitational, which was won by Bill Glasson.

Tiger Woods, who launched his first full season on the USPGA Tour with a victory in this tournament last year, was seven shots off the pace on even-par 72.

Woods, who won four events last year, including a recordbreaking victory at the US Masters, led the Tour in winnings with $2,066,833 in 1997.

USPGA Championship winner Davis Love III fired a two-under 70, while British Open champion Justin Leonard was eight shots adrift on 73.

The Mercedes Championships is limited to 1997 tournament winners and 30 of the 31 victors are competing.

Mercedes Championships (in Carlsbad, California): First round scores (US unless stated): 65 - J Cook; 66 - N Price (Zim); 67 - E Els (SA), F Nobilo (NZ); 68 - D Duval, P Mickelson; 69 - G Hjertstedt (Swe), B Brown, P Stankowski, S Jones; 70 - L Roberts, S Hoch, M Calcavecchia, D Love, S McCarron, J Sluman; 71 - S Cink, N Faldo (Eng), M O'Meara; 72 - B Faxon, S Elkington (Aus), T Woods; 73 - D Toms, G Norman (Aus), J Leonard, P Blackmear; 74 - T Herron, D Frost (SA); 75 - V Singh (Fij); 77 - S Appleby (Aus).