Paul Casey making a statement at Tour Championship

Reporting from Atlanta — 

And to think that the myriad FedEx Cup permutations were jumbled at the Tour Championship’s outset.

Check it out now. But grab a calculator.

Humdrum starts by the top four names on the FedEx points list only nudged the door open a little wider for someone from off the pace to capture the $10-million bonanza that goes to the PGA Tour’s points champion.

That is, if Paul Casey doesn’t create his own little transatlantic whirlwind by winning the thing.

“I’m not getting wrapped up in any sort of extra motivation,” said Casey, whose omission from Europe’s Ryder Cup roster looks more controversial each day.

The English pro is the only man in the top third of Thursday’s leaderboard who can take home the FedEx Cup without any outside help. Otherwise, it’s a number-cruncher’s utopia.

“I guess it doesn’t upset me,” said Jim Furyk, flashing a big, cheesy smile.

Casey, Geoff Ogilvy and Luke Donald shared the first-round lead at four-under-par 66, with Furyk another stroke back as warm, gentle conditions couldn’t prevent East Lake Golf Club from taking a bite out of some of this week’s leading names.

Points leader Matt Kuchar found himself in 19th after an opening 72, as none of the top four in the standings managed to break par.

No. 2 Dustin Johnson shot 73, while Charley Hoffman turned in a 71. Even steady Steve Stricker — who owns 10 top-10 finishes in 15 FedEx Cup starts since the format was introduced — has ground to make up after a 74.

“It’s hard to have four great days out here,” Kuchar said, “and hopefully this was my bad day.”

Kuchar holds the biggest key to everyone else’s FedEx Cup chances. A top-10 finish knocks half of this week’s field from the chase — but a bottom-10 finish lets nearly everyone in.

He played Thursday’s round without a birdie — though an eagle at the par-five 15th provided his lone bright spot. Four bogeys marked the rest of his round, leaving him with plenty of ground to make up.

“It was a little frustrating,” Kuchar said. “I found myself in the left rough a little too often, and the greens are so firm and fast that if you’re not in the fairway, it’s hard to get it close.”

The struggles of the points leaders didn’t escape Casey’s notice.

“The big screen [leaderboard] they have out there never goes past the top 20, and I wasn’t seeing anybody in the [FedEx] top five in that top 20,” Casey said.

“If the PGA Tour is listening — can you just roll through? They’ve got only 10 more guys to show on the screen.”

Casey, No. 5 in points, broke 70 for the seventh time in nine rounds since European captain Colin Montgomerie left him off the squad for next week’s showdown in Wales. He’s tried to downplay any payback motivation, even good-humoredly staying mum after one early-week question.

“I’m just trying to put myself in position to win,” Casey said after Thursday’s round. “I don’t need extra motivation. I’m motivated enough.”

There’s still three rounds left to play, anyway. Even those in the thick of the hunt know they can drive themselves a little bonkers if they stare at those big-screen boards too long.

“I don’t think there’s much point at looking at it every day and studying it,” Donald said. “I think you just kind of concentrate on yourself.”

jshain@orlandosentinel.com