Karlsson sets the pace in Doha

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson defied the weather to card a four-under-par opening round at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters today to open up a two-shot lead midway through a first windswept day in Doha.

Former European number one Karlsson, who endured a disrupted 2009 following eye problems, hit every green in regulation with one only dropped shot to his name for a 68 despite high winds and thick rough limiting scoring at Doha Golf Club.

Colombian Camilo Villegas dropped his only shot of the day at the last following a three putt to join world number 14 Sergio Garcia heading the chasing pack at two-under-par.

“The course is set up very difficult so I am happy with the round especially given the conditions. I hit all the greens and had a lot of long putts, but that’s what you have to when it’s windy so I am very happy,” said Karlsson.

“The weather makes it harder not the course; it is set up very fair and it is in great condition.”

Karlsson, starting on the much easier back nine, began slowly but kickstarted his round courtesy of a touch of luck as an eight iron approach over the water at the 15th took a fortunate bounce and rolled in for an eagle two from 182 yards.

An eight-foot birdie putt a hole later left Karlsson two behind early pacesetter Louis Oosthuizen, but while the South African fell apart on his second circuit, the Swede added two further birdies with his only blemish a three-putt bogey at seven.

Defending champion Alvaro Quiros, Robert-Jan Derksen, Anders Hansen, Hennie Otto, Marc Warren, Francois Delamontagne and irishman Gareth Maybin were the only others to beat par at one-under.

Scotland’s Warren produced the only bogey-free round with a solitary birdie, while Maybin signed for just one bogey.

Desert expert Oosthuizen had set the early pace at five-under-par through the easier back nine, but last year’s runner up fell apart on the front part of the course undoing all his hard work and finished with an ugly double bogey.

Oskar Henningsson, 1999 champion Andrew Coltart and Spaniard Ignacio Garrido joined Oosthuizen at level-par with remaining 46 morning starters over par.