POTOMAC, Md. — The lack of starpower at the Booz Allen Classic offers a timely opportunity for players who have been struggling to get a win on the PGA Tour.

Take, for instance, the leaderboard at the end of the first round Thursday. It was topped by five players who have combined for exactly zero victories since 2003. Without Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson or Ernie Els giving chase, all five can envision a plausible scenario that keeps them in contention all the way to Sunday.

"Obviously, it helps that they're not here," said Ben Curtis, who led with a 9-under 62. "If Phil, Tiger, Ernie are here, they are going to be at the top of the leaderboard by the end of the week."

Curtis and Jeff Gove (63) both shot their career-best rounds in impeccable conditions on the TPC at Avenel. Jose Coceres was two shots off the lead, with Steve Flesch and Will MacKenzie trailing by three.

"This is what you dream of, and this is what you play and practice for, to get to that feeling," said Curtis, who had nine birdies in his bogey-free round and hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation. "You don't get it very often, so when you feel comfortable out there, you just want to take advantage of it, and that's what I did."

The Booz Allen has a lame-duck, anticlimactic feel this week, reflected in the tiny galleries that followed the leaders during the first round. The sport's biggest names are resting following the grueling U.S. Open last week at Winged Foot, and the PGA Tour plans to move this tournament to a less enticing spot on the fall portion of the calendar next year.