DOHA: Double major winner Retief Goosen celebrated his 42nd birthday by shooting a three-under-par 69 to take the lead after the opening round of a windswept Qatar Masters Thursday. The strong winds caused problems for a number of players, including world No. 2 Martin Kaymer who struggled to a 77, and seven will return to complete their first rounds Friday after play was halted due to poor light. Among them was Sweden's Niclas Fasth, two-under through 15 holes and in a tie for second place. Twice US Open winner Goosen was just one of eight players in the field to go under par, recording five birdies including a gem at the long par-five ninth, his last hole. “Of all the rounds I've played here in Doha, today was probably one of the toughest rounds,” world No. 15 Goosen told Reuters. Compatriot Darren Fichardt, defending champion Robert Karlsson from Sweden and Briton Richard Finch carded scores of 70 with Austrian Markus Brier, Britons Seve Benson and Oliver Fisher and South African Thomas Aiken on 71. American world No. 7 Steve Stricker, who played alongside Westwood, struggled to a 76 and double major-winning compatriot John Daly shot a 77. Shin level for 1st-round lead In Melbourne, South Korea's Jiyai Shin, playing her first event of the year, shot a 6-under-par 67 Thursday to take a share of the first-round lead at the Women's Australian Open. American Jennifer Song was level with Shin at Commonwealth Golf Club. Rebecca Coakley of Ireland was in third place with a 68, while five golfers were tied for fourth with 69s: Australian Nikki Campbell, Eun Ji and Eun-Hee Ji of South Korea, Anne-Lise Caudal of France and Becky Morgan of Scotland. Former Australian Open champions Laura Davies of England shot 71 and Australia's Karrie Webb 72. “I changed my swing a little bit last month, I changed the tempo,” Shin said. “I had confidence but I was a little bit nervous too. “
