Friday 27 January 2017 15:11, UK
Bradley Dredge fired a blemish-free 64 to set the pace after the opening round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, where Graeme McDowell also made a strong start.
The Welshman struck eight birdies to move one-shot clear of nearest challenger Mikko Korhonen, who shot a bogey-free 65, with McDowell part of the group a further stroke adrift in his first start of the year.
On a day of low scoring in Doha, Dredge opened with a birdie and picked up shots at the fifth and eighth on his way to reaching the turn in 33.
Back-to-back birdies from the 10th were followed by another at the 13th to move Dredge alongside the morning clubhouse leaders, before the world No 95 drained an 18-footer at the 15th and added a two-putt birdie at the next to claim the outright lead.
"I felt as though I really got my eye in today, apart from my last two putts," Dredge told Sky Sports. "I actually didn't hit as many fairways as I would have liked, but putting was good and my approach was good."
McDowell had grabbed a share of the early clubhouse lead with Nathan Kimsey and Kiradech Aphibarnrat by making birdie on each of his opening three holes on his way to a six-under 66.
Beginning on the back nine, the former US Open added three more before the turn and added another at the second, with a three-putt bogey at the sixth his only dropped shot.
Qualifying school graduate Kimsey posted four birdies around the turn and briefly led on his own until a penultimate-hole blemish, while Aphibarnrat closed his 66 with back-to-back birdies.
Paul Dunne and Thomas Detry both opened with a 67, with top seed Alex Noren joining Andy Sullivan and Ernie Els in ending the day on four under.
Thomas Aiken threatened the outright lead with four birdies in a five-hole stretch, but also signed for a 68 after a double-bogey at the 15th and a final-hole blemish.
Watch the Qatar Masters throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage begins on Friday from 6.30am
