DOHA, Qatar (AP) — South Africa’s Retief Goosen shot a 3-under-par 69 to take an early one-shot lead in the first round of the Qatar Masters on Thursday.
With winds reaching 25 mph at the Doha Golf Club, the 42-year-old Goosen managed five birdies to finish one shot ahead of defending champion Robert Karlsson of Sweden, South Africa’s Darren Fitchardt and England’s Richard Finch.
The windy conditions seemed to unsettle some of the most prominent players, with top-ranked Lee Westwood shooting a 73 and American Steve Stricker a 76.
No. 2-ranked Martin Kaymer, who could overtake Westwood at this tournament, was still out on the course.
