Hot putter gives Stenson share of early lead in Qatar

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Henrik Stenson is coming off an offseason in which he teamed with Robert Karlsson to won the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup for Sweden.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) -- Henrik Stenson shot a 6-under 66 Thursday to take a share of the lead of the Qatar Masters with Andrew Coltart and Angel Miguel Jiminez after the first round.

Stenson, who won in Qatar in 2006, had seven birdies at the Doha Golf Club.

"Maybe I didn't play my best golf today, but I putted really well," the 32-year-old Swede said. "And I feel it comes down to putting well when the conditions are as good as we saw today."

Five players trailed the leaders by a stroke: Robert Dinwiddie, Anders Hensen, Louis Oosthuizen, Brett Rumford and Lee Westwood. Six more are at 68.

Coltart had five birdies and an eagle on No. 16 to get his 66.

"The highlight of the day for me was the eagle on hole 16," Coltart said. "It was into the wind, but I managed it. I also enjoyed hole 12. A good deal of body work helped me there (with a birdie).

"I think I played steady," added the Scot, who won the Qatar Masters in 1998. "I gave myself chances. It was nice to get opportunities. I have good memories of this place."

Jimenez had six birdies, including four on the front nine.

Sergio Garcia (70) and 2007 champion Retief Goosen (69) were also still in contention, but defending champion Adam Scott (73) and American Ryder Cup star Boo Weekley (74) struggled.

Westwood, a six-time Ryder Cup player from England, was happy with his first significant outing of the season.

"I have not practiced a lot in the time over Christmas I didn't really know what to expect," Westwood said. "I started really well with a good drive down 10 and didn't make a birdie. ... After six holes, I thought it was going to be one of those slow starts of the year where I'm a bit rusty, but it all came good in the end."