A sandstorm suspended play in the Qatar Masters after three-and-a-half-hours' play in Doha today.
South African James Kingston, first man out at 6.25 a.m., was leading the field at three under par after 13 holes when visibility was cut to about 100 yards in places and the players were called in off the course.
Ian Woosnam had failed to make the most of an opening eagle in the testing conditions before the stoppage.
The local Shamal wind normally only blows hard after lunch, but it was there for the start of the £936,000 sterling event.
Woosnam, joint third in the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday and runner-up in the event three years ago, sank a 15-foot putt for a three at the 510-yard 10th.
But bogeys followed at the 13th and 14th and then the Welshman missed two golden opportunities to get back under par.
First he three-putted the 306-yard 16th after driving the green and then he had to settle for par again at the 581-yard 18th, also playing downwind, after going long and left with his second shot.
As the storm approached Woosnam, one of the few stars appearing in an event hit by 50 withdrawals with the Iraqi war looming, dropped another stroke at the 429-yard second.
Kingston kicked off with a birdie four, reached the turn in 34 and then birdied the 11th to nose in front of England's Phil Golding, Swedes Henrik Stenson and Fredrik Andersson and Belgian Nicolas Vanhootegem.
Golding, the 40-year-old from Luton who was in the first group out off the 10th tee, did not have to hole any putts longer than 10 feet as he birdied the 12th, 13th and 16th, but he then bogeyed the fourth as officials were about to call off the action.
Tournament favourite Padraig Harrington was among the later starters, as was fellow Dubliner Paul McGinley, who was diagnosed with pneumonia earlier in the week and withdrew from yesterday's pro-am after nine holes because of feeling unwell in the 100-degree heat.
The hold-up could well work in his favour, as there had to be a chance he would have an unexpected day off.
Phillip Price, the only other member of last September's Ryder Cup team taking part, parred his first 10 holes.
PA