Stenson, Coltart and Jimenez top board at Qatar Open
Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez holds joint lead of Qatar Masters
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Thursday, 22, Jan 2009 04:02
A trio of players, including two former champions, hold a share of the lead after the first round of the star-studded Qatar Masters in Doha.
Sweden's Henrik Stenson and Scotland's Andrew Coltart, who have both won the tournament in the past, joined Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez at the top of the leaderboard after six-under-par rounds of 66.
All three players benefitted from playing their opening rounds early in the day, when conditions were calmer.
Close behind the trio are the English pair of Lee Westwood and Robert Dinwiddie, Dane Anders Hansen, Australia’s Brett Rumford and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, who all managed five-under-par 67s on the opening day.
However, it was a less auspicious start for several other big-name stars in the Middle East.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy endured a torrid first round in the blustery conditions later in the day, carding a four-over-par 76, putting him level with England's Paul Casey, who was coming off an excellent result after winning last week's Abu Dhabi Championship.
Ireland's Paul McGinley had an equally disappointing 76, while European Tour newcomer - the United States' Boo Weekley - could manage only a two-over-par 74 on his first day.