Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Brandon Robinson Thompson share the first-round lead at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters after carding six-under-par rounds of 66 at Doha Golf Club.
Robinson Thompson finds himself at the top of the leaderboard after the first round for the second week in a row, following on from his 11-under-par opening round at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship last Thursday.
Starting from the tenth, the Englishman made the turn three under par after four birdies and a bogey and he moved to four under after another gain on the first hole.
He then made back-to-back birdies, holing a 45-foot putt on the eighth hole after a birdie at the seventh, to sign for a six-under-par round.
Brandon Robinson Thompson: Just a lot of good stuff out there today. Tricky conditions with the wind, but first and foremost the golf course is in unbelievable condition. The guys at Doha Golf Club have done such a good job. I just took advantage of opportunities that came my way.
The first round is always important, it can get you in the tournament, you can relax and build on it.
This is almost like a home game for me. I’ve been here so many times and I’m so comfortable here. I had some people out watching as well. It’s just fun to be here. I’m comfortable on the golf course.
I’m staying with a really good friend of mine. With the course being as good as I’ve ever seen it, it’s exciting to play, because I know the course, and it’s awesome.
He joined Denmark’s Neergaard-Petersen at the top of the leaderboard after the Team Cup player set the early clubhouse target.
The 2024 HotelPlanner Tour Number One recovered from a bogey on the opening hole with seven birdies to card his round of 66.
Rasmus Neegaard-Petersen: I made a conscious effort this week to try and start fast. So far this year I’ve…even at the Emirates where I had a good finish I was three over through eight.
I told my caddie, Brian, going into this week that was the main goal, get off to a good start, be under par through six and take it from there.
I hit a great drive (on 15), so I was quite far up. I had a five iron in, it’s a super tough hole, tricky pin just over a ridge. I actually had a good look for birdie, but to par that hole it was big for momentum to keep that round going til the end.
In a share of second are England’s Sam Bairstow and Italian Andrea Pavan on five under par, while last week’s Bahrain Championship winner Laurie Canter, 2003 Qatar Masters champion Darren Fichardt and 2009 winner Alvaro Quiros are among seven golfers on four under par.
Play was suspended at 17:12 due to darkness, with four groups still to finish their opening rounds. Jean Bekirian of Armenia and Pierre Pinau of France are both on four under par with two holes still to play.
