Coltart, Stenson, Jimenez share


lead on 66 in Qatar Masters

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Former title-winners of this event, Henrik Stenson and Andrew Coltart and Miguel Angel Jimenez share a one-stroke first round lead at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters Presented by Dolphin Energy.
World No 11 Stenson, runner-up last year to Adam Scott following his 2006 triumph, took advantage of calmer morning conditions to set the pace with a six under par 66.
Inaugural Qatar champion Coltart, pictured right, fresh from winning back his Tour card at Qualifying School, and a bogey-free Jiménez were able to match the Swede as they tamed the windy afternoon conditions at the traditionally testing Doha Golf Club.
The Spanish Ryder Cup star, who was battling a ski-ing thumb injury which restricted his driving, had a chance to claim the outright overnight lead but missed an eight foot birdie putt at the last.
English duo Lee Westwood and Robert Dinwiddie, Joburg Open winner Anders Hansen, Australia’s Brett Rumford and Abu Dhabi runner up Louis Oosthuizen share fourth place at five under.
After missing the cut last week in Abu Dhabi, Dubai resident Stenson picked up four shots in eight holes around the turn to make his move before finishing with back-to-back birdies, showing signs of the form which helped him win the Nedbank Golf Challenge and team up with Robert Karlsson for Omega Mission Hills World Cup success in recent months.
“I maybe didn’t play my best, but I took my chances and I was putting really well. It comes down to the putting and I made some good ten to 15 footers,” said the 32 year old.
“It’s a course I really enjoy playing. I think it’s the ninth time coming to Qatar so I have a fair idea how to play the course.”
After starting on the back nine Coltart reached the turn four under courtesy of an eagle 2 after driving the 307yd 16th.
And despite dropping his only bogey at the sixth where he three-putted, three birdies including one at the last, kept the Scot at the top of the leaderboard.
“I have good memories in Qatar. I have managed to make the odd birdie around this course but I have also had the odd disaster when it has been pretty windy,” said Coltart.
“The eagle at 16 was the highlight as I was able to drive the green to ten feet and hole the putt. I had a good birdie at 12 which was a 25 footer across the green. I was also giving myself the birdie chances - there were four more inside ten feet which was quite pleasing as the wind was getting quite tricky.”
Jiménez said: “Playing very well, especially my iron shots. My driving is not straight, solid, because of my injury. I feel pain in my swing. But I'm hitting my irons very good, and holed some putts, and that's what you need to make the score.”
World No 10 Westwood was delighted with his first competitive round of 2009, and praised the course.
“It's set up just the way I think we'd all like it. If you miss a fairway, you get penalised, which you should do. The greens are true, the putts will go in if they are on line, and the greens don't spike up,” he said.
Another former champion, Retief Goosen, was five under after 13 holes but recorded back-to-back bogeys and was forced to settle for a three-under 69 alongside Oliver Wilson and early pacesetter Peter Hedblom.
Rory McIlroy had a disastrous finish to his round as two double-bogeys in the closing stages saw the Holywood teenager plummet down the field.
After reaching the turn in level par the 19-year-old doubled the 14th before another came at the par five 18th. His opening 76 left him way off the pace on four-over.
Next to the pacemaking Coltart, Colin Montgomerie was the second best Scot with a 71, followed by Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher on 72. Gary Orr had a 78.


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