Wilson, Dredge share first round lead in Qatar

England’s Oliver Wilson shares the lead after the first round of the Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club. The Englishman carded a five-under-par round of 67 in blustery conditions to share the tournament lead with Wales’ Bradley Dredge who carded five birdies in his closing seven holes.

Wilson is still seeking his maiden tournament win, despite finishing runner up nine times in his career and played in the 2008 Ryder Cup match. But he did his chances of breaking his duck no harm with a round that included six birdies in his first thirteen holes.

Countryman Lee Westwood – the current European number one – carded birdies on each of the three par-fives on the course and lies one shot off the lead in a four-way share of second spot. Also in the group are Germany’s Marcel Seim, and Swedes Robert Karlsson and Alex Noren.

Karlsson held the early clubhouse lead after carding an early 68 in a round in which only 24 players broke par out of the 126 who started.

Brian Rumford of Australia sits alone on three-under-par while several players share two-under-par including Sergio Garcia, Peter Hanson, Charl Schwartzel, Richie Ramsay and Ross Fisher among others.

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen endured a roller-coaster round, having reached five-under par on his outward nine before coming back with four bogeys and a double bogey to finish on level par.

Abu Dhabi runner up Ian Poulter struggled to a frustrating round of 75 while Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie finished with a 76. Poulter’s Abu Dhabi conquerer Martin Kaymer struggled to a 74 while Henrik Stenson – YourGolfTravel’s pick for the tournament – recovered from three-over par after eight holes to get back to level par, before slipping back to three-over par again.