Peter Hedblom set the early pace this morning at the Qatar Masters as the Swede reached the turn of his first round four under par and a shot clear of compatriot Henrik Stenson, Dane Anders Hansen and former champion Retief Goosen.
Hedblom, who missed the halfway cut in Abu Dhabi last week, reeled off four birdies over the final six holes of his front nine at Qatar Golf Club.
Starting on the back nine Stenson, looking to build on his second place finish behind Adam Scott in Doha last year, picked up three shots around the turn, while Hansen played a bogey-free back nine.
South African Goosen missed out on the defence of his 2007 Pearl trophy after being forced to withdraw last year with an eye complaint, but continued his form which saw him win the Africa Open last weekend with a flawless back nine in calm conditions this morning.
The winners of last year's orders of merit in Europe and Asia, Sweden's Robert Karlsson and India's Jeev Milka Singh, headlined a congested group at two-under alongside English Ryder Cup duo Lee Westwood and Oliver Wilson.
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