GMac seven off the lead after battling ‘brutal’ desert sandstorm

Eye drops were of little comfort to Graeme McDowell at a windswept Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in Doha yesterday.

A choking desert ‘Shamal’ engulfed the Qatar capital with McDowell carding a one over par 73 but describing the experience as akin to being put through a ‘sand blaster’.

“Apart from playing in cold and rain, that was one of (the) most uncomfortable days I’ve ever had on a golf course,” he said.

“I felt like I was playing golf in a sand blaster and that’s the only way you can describe it. I contemplated playing in shades at one point. I was using eye drops during the round and even now my eyes are still stinging.

“I was lucky I am not wearing contacts as it was brutal out there; there was a huge amount of sand out there.

“I’m just glad we got the job done and let’s hope we can dodge a bullet tomorrow but that seems pretty unlikely given they say the wind is going to get stronger.”

Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano emerged from the haze to birdie four of his closing five holes to grab a one shot lead on six under par. Double Major winning, John Daly didn’t drop a shot in a 67 and he found a practical way to avoid getting sand in his mouth.

“I was better off just keeping a cigarette in my mouth the whole round,” he joked.

Daly, along with fellow American born Major winners Ben Curtis, Todd Hamilton and Shaun Micheel, and all competing in Doha, have joined the European Tour.

And all four look set to contest the Irish Open at Royal Portrush. Peter Lawrie and Michael Hoey were both three under midway through their rounds before ending with one under par 71s.

Lawrie was left with a further sour taste in his mouth following two bogeys over his closing three holes including missing a four-footer at the last.

“I’ve got sand in my eyes, my mouth, everywhere, and it was just unbelievable,” he said.

“I’ve played in windy conditions but not like this with so much sand and dust in the air and I’m just thankful I’m not wearing contacts.

“Fortunately, the rough is down this year so while it was uncomfortable out there it’s not the toughest the course has played.

“I got it to three under which was nice but my last three holes were disappointing.

“But after playing out in South Africa and last week in Abu Dhabi I’ve got much of the rust out of my game and I’m back into the groove of competition and I played a lot more decent today.”

Hoey was three under par after 11 but dropped shots at his 12th, 16th and 17th holes before a final hole birdie.

“The dust just seemed to get everywhere, worst of all was in the eyes because it made (it) very difficult to focus on the ball,” he said.

Paul McGinley, in his first event of the New Year, and Shane Lowry carded 75s, Gareth Maybin a 76 and Damien McGrane a 78.

Defending champion, Thomas Bjorn signed for a 79 while former Irish Open winner Ross Fisher had an 81 and past Qatar winner, Henrik Stenson an 82.