South African celebrates 42nd birthday in fine style
Birthday boy Retief Goosen was the only man to break 70 as he claimed the clubhouse lead after the opening day of the Qatar Masters.
The South African, who turned 42 on Thursday, coped admirably with extremely testing conditions at Doha Golf Club as relentlessly strong winds kept low scores very much at a premium.
Goosen posted a 69 to finish at three-under-par and was joined on that score late in the day by Niclas Fasth.
However, the Swede still has two holes of his first round left to play and will return early on Friday morning to do so.
In total, only nine players finished the day under-par with South Africa's Darren Fichardt, England's Richard Finch and defending champion Robert Karlsson all one behind the leading duo after rounds of 70.
Austria's Markus Brier, Thomas Aiken of South Africa and English duo Seve Benson and Oliver Fisher are the only other men in red numbers as the entire field struggled to cope with the gales.
World number two Martin Kaymer found the going particularly tough and failed to make a single birdie as he signed for a five-over 77, while number one Lee Westwood battled hard to end up four shots better off after a 73.
Despite being over-par, Westwood - who could lose top spot if Kaymer finishes in the top-two on Sunday - still finds himself inside the top 20.
Struggle for Kaymer
After only one bogey all week a fortnight ago, Kaymer dropped shots at the sixth and 12th and then drove into rocks three holes later.
The USPGA champion tried to play his way out of trouble, but succeeded only in advancing his ball a few yards before taking a penalty drop en route to a double-bogey six.
Another shot went at the short 17th and he is now in danger of his first missed cut since the Scottish Open last July.
Goosen, whose last European Tour success came in this very event in 2007, enjoyed a far more productive time of things, but still admitted he had found the going tough.
Drove nicely
"I drove it nicely, but it was tough to get the ball close to the flags and when you were putting you were getting blown all over the place," explained the South African.
Fasth's last win was also four years ago, but he boosted his chances with a birdie at the driveable par-four 16th to join Goosen before play was called off for the day for bad light.
But there were plenty of big numbers on the scorebaord, John Daly coming home in 42 to match Kaymer's 77, world number seven Steve Stricker -(making his first appearance in a regular European Tour event for 16 years) - was only one better than that and Ryder Cup winner Ross Fisher slumped to an 80.
Paul Casey, the winner in Bahrain last weekend, needed three birdies in his last four holes just for a 74, while Ian Poulter birdied two of his last three for 72 and joint 10th.
The South African, who turned 42 on Thursday, coped admirably with extremely testing conditions at Doha Golf Club as relentlessly strong winds kept low scores very much at a premium.
Goosen posted a 69 to finish at three-under-par and was joined on that score late in the day by Niclas Fasth.
However, the Swede still has two holes of his first round left to play and will return early on Friday morning to do so.
In total, only nine players finished the day under-par with South Africa's Darren Fichardt, England's Richard Finch and defending champion Robert Karlsson all one behind the leading duo after rounds of 70.
Austria's Markus Brier, Thomas Aiken of South Africa and English duo Seve Benson and Oliver Fisher are the only other men in red numbers as the entire field struggled to cope with the gales.
World number two Martin Kaymer found the going particularly tough and failed to make a single birdie as he signed for a five-over 77, while number one Lee Westwood battled hard to end up four shots better off after a 73.
Despite being over-par, Westwood - who could lose top spot if Kaymer finishes in the top-two on Sunday - still finds himself inside the top 20.
Struggle for Kaymer
After only one bogey all week a fortnight ago, Kaymer dropped shots at the sixth and 12th and then drove into rocks three holes later.
The USPGA champion tried to play his way out of trouble, but succeeded only in advancing his ball a few yards before taking a penalty drop en route to a double-bogey six.
Another shot went at the short 17th and he is now in danger of his first missed cut since the Scottish Open last July.
Goosen, whose last European Tour success came in this very event in 2007, enjoyed a far more productive time of things, but still admitted he had found the going tough.
Drove nicely
"I drove it nicely, but it was tough to get the ball close to the flags and when you were putting you were getting blown all over the place," explained the South African.
Fasth's last win was also four years ago, but he boosted his chances with a birdie at the driveable par-four 16th to join Goosen before play was called off for the day for bad light.
But there were plenty of big numbers on the scorebaord, John Daly coming home in 42 to match Kaymer's 77, world number seven Steve Stricker -(making his first appearance in a regular European Tour event for 16 years) - was only one better than that and Ryder Cup winner Ross Fisher slumped to an 80.
Paul Casey, the winner in Bahrain last weekend, needed three birdies in his last four holes just for a 74, while Ian Poulter birdied two of his last three for 72 and joint 10th.
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