Qatar Masters

Webster second after first-hole albatross, Coetzee leads

ESPN staff

January 22, 2014

Steve Webster was three-under after the first hole following an albratross © Getty Images

Enlarge

George Coetzee made seven birdies and an eagle in his first round of 64 to take the lead at the Qatar Masters, although an albatross on the opening hole helped Englishman Steve Webster finish within one shot.

Coetzee made seven birdies, an eagle and a solitary bogey during his opening round at Doha Golf Club but it was Webster who stole the headlines after he holed a superb 254-yard second shot at the par-five 10th - he went on to make five birdies and a bogey to finish seven-under, one shot off the South African.

"It was 254 yards to the pin, slightly into the wind off the left," Webster told the European Tour official website. "It was a five wood and I hit a great shot, obviously straight at it.

"Because I carry a big crowd following me, there were about two people behind the green and one of them started jumping up and pointing down and I didn't know if it had gone over the back into the rocks or in. I got up there and he started clapping and it was a dream start.

"I have never been three under through one before and you wonder is this my day or have I had all my luck on the first hole, but I played great after that.

"I was really consistent, gave myself a lot of chances and made a few putts and was probably a little disappointed with seven under to be honest. I probably should have finished nine or 10 under but it's a good start."

Dawie van der Walt is tied for second with Webster after an impressive, bogeyless round of 65 while Ross Fisher is among a quartet of players a further shot back on six-under following his flawless round of 66.

John Daly sits five-under alongside Paul Lawrie and Ernie Els following their solid rounds of 67, while Henrik Stenson is four-under after his first round.

Miguel Angel Jimenez suffered a mixed round of 71, along with fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia, and former world No. 1 Luke Donald had to settle for an even-par 72, eight shots off the lead.

Thomas Levet and Peter Lawrie prop up the leaderboard, sitting eight-over-par following respective rounds of 80.

Qatar Masters Leaderboard