Wilson makes light of tough conditions to share lead in Doha

Europe’s perennial bridesmaid Oliver Wilson battled testing conditions to card a five-under -par 67 and share a one-shot first-round lead at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters with Welshman Bradley Dredge.

Wilson, yet to post a maiden title despite making a Ryder Cup debut in 2008, dropped just one shot on his first circuit of Doha Golf Club despite blustery wind and deep rough leaving the majority of the field over par and just 24 in minus figures.

After European No 1 Lee Westwood missed an eagle putt at the last which would have claimed the outright lead at that stage, Dredge completed a run of four birdies over his final five holes with a 20-foot putt to join Wilson at the top of the leaderboard.

“I’m obviously really pleased, but it was a strange one because it didn’t feel that hard,” said Wilson, who missed the cut in Abu Dhabi last week.

“I got in and realised it had been playing tough, but I was disappointed I didn’t pick up more shots coming in. I had some good chances, but all in all, I’m happy.

“My putting was better. I holed a few putts and overall, everything was good. I drove it well and hit my irons really good.”

Wilson has finished second nine times with two play-off defeats.

The 29-year-old did have a chance to ensure the overnight lead at the last, but missed a five-foot birdie putt following a similar miss two holes earlier after making his move up the leaderboard with a run of three birdies in four holes.

Westwood eventually tapped home at the last for a fifth birdie of the day as the world No 4 resumed normal service after last week’s slip-up in Abu Dhabi, with a new set of irons helping him to a share of third alongside Robert Karlsson, Alexander Noren and Marcel Siem.

The 36-year-old Worksop player dropped just one shot, a three-putt bogey, as he found the soft fairways and hard greens, which annoyed sections of the field, to his liking.

“I played very solid,” Westwood said. “I made one decent putt from 25 feet, missed just two greens and two fairways so I am picking up where I left off from last year.”

Westwood has called for compulsory checks to be introduced following the changes to the rules regarding grooves on clubs.

The new requirements came into force for professionals for the first time in Abu Dhabi last week, outlawing “boxed” grooves in favour of more of a “v” shape in an attempt to reduce the amount of spin.

The changes played a part in Westwood missing the cut on his first appearance of the season after being left in the dark over the legality of a new set of irons with testing only optional.

“The manufacturers are not sure about the testing and the parameters so it’s a semi-ridiculous situation. You have the fact that people have to almost check their own clubs to see if they are legal,” said Westwood.

“I think it should be like Formula 1. You get the three guys at the top of the leaderboard and test their clubs after they have played so you know who is playing within the rules and who is not.”