The dual US Open golf champion Retief Goosen was the only player to break 70 on a windy first day of the Qatar Masters in Doha.
Goosen celebrated his 42nd birthday with a 3-under par 69 which left him a stroke clear of fellow South African Darren Fichardt, the defending champion Robert Karlsson from Sweden and a past NZ Open champion, the Englishman Richard Finch.
Mark Brown was best of the New Zealand trio with a 75, Danny Lee had a 77 and Michael Campbell 79.
The US stars Steve Stricker and John Daly shot 76 and 77 respectively.
