Karlsson races to early lead in Qatar
Source: Agencies |
January 29, 2010, Friday
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ROBERT Karlsson of Sweden defied strong gusting winds to shoot a 4-under 68 yesterday and take the clubhouse lead in the first round of the Qatar Masters.
Sergio Garcia of Spain and Camilo Villegas of Colombia were two shots back in second place.
With less than a dozen of the 60 morning starters breaking par at the Doha Golf Club, Karlsson's accuracy in the tough conditions allowed him to stay out of the course's deep and wiry rough.
"The tournament officials have tried to set up the course sensibly and moved some tees forward to counter the wind," Karlsson said. "But I was able to score well because I hit every green in regulation. On some holes, however, you could not go for the pins."
The Swede also enjoyed some luck on the par-4 15th when he holed an 8-iron from 182 yards for an eagle.
"I wasn't going for that pin," he said. "But the ball took a nice bounce off a bank and rolled into the hole."
Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa had a superb start after beginning on the 10th tee and was at 5 under after nine holes. However, he followed up with four bogeys and a double bogey on the front nine to finish on level par.
"The rough was too tough for that wind," Oosthuizen said. "Whenever I got into it, all I could do was chip out sideways."
In Queenstown, New Zealand, American Robert Gates, New Zealand's David Smail and Australia's Andrew Dodt shot 7-under 65s yesterday to share the first-round lead at the New Zealand Open.
American DJ Brigman and Australia's Andrew Bonhomme opened with 66s at The Hills in the tournament which is the US Nationwide Tour season opener and is also sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Smail, the 2001 winner at The Grange, had only 27 putts, sinking seven birdies in his bogey-free round.
Gates had an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys.
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