Fernandez-Castano fires

A flurry of late birdies helped Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano leapfrog John Daly into the first-round lead at the Qatar Masters on Thursday.

Castano turned in four birdies from the last five holes at the Doha Golf Club to finish with a six-under 66 and lead Daly, who said he had not touched a club in five-and-a-half weeks, by one stroke.

South Korean KJ Choi and Australian Jason Day, the world number 10, are a shot further back at four under in equal third.

Scotland's Paul Lawrie is on three under, level with Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, Swede Peter Hanson plus English pair Richard Finch and Danny Willett.

But it was the flamboyant Daly who stole the show.

"That was one of the best rounds I've ever played in a wind like that," the American said.

"You feel like you are eating sand - it was brutal."

The former British Open and PGA championship winner has slipped to 543rd in the world rankings and has relinquished his PGA Tour card.

He has not won a title for eight years but the 45-year-old can still produce sizzling golf.

"I'm pretty shocked," Daly said of his flawless round containing five birdies.

"I have had five-and-a-half weeks off and really didn't touch a club much."

Three of the world's top 10 players are in the field, including Day, with world No.3 Lee Westwood and fourth-ranked Martin Kaymer both finishing on one under.