Woosnam fades after flying start

Ian Woosnam failed to make the most of an opening eagle when the Qatar Masters began in testing conditions today.

The local Shamal wind normally only blows hard after lunch, but it was there even when the first players teed off at 6.25am and by mid-morning a sandstorm was evident in the desert surrounding the Doha Golf Club.

Woosnam, joint third in the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday and runner-up in this event three years ago, sank a 15-foot putt for a three at the 510-yard 10th.

But bogeys followed at the 13th and 14th and then the Welshman missed two golden opportunities to get back under par.

First he three-putted the 306-yard 16th after driving the green and then he had to settle for par again at the 581-yard 18th, also playing downwind, after going long and left with his second shot.

As he began the outward half Woosnam, one of the few stars appearing in an event hit by 50 withdrawals as war with Iraq looms, was three strokes behind early pace-setters Philip Golding and James Kingston.

Golding, the 40-year-old from Luton who was in the very first group out, did not have to hole any putts longer than 10 feet as he birdied the 12th, 13th and 16th, while South African Kingston played the front nine in 34 and then birdied the 11th.

Tournament favourite Padraig Harrington was among the later starters, as was fellow Dubliner Paul McGinley, who was diagnosed with pneumonia earlier in the week and withdrew from yesterday’s pro-am after nine holes because of feeling unwell in the 100-degree heat.

Phillip Price, the only other member of last September’s Ryder Cup team taking part, parred his first nine holes.