GOLF TOUR NEWS:A REVITALISED Andrew Coltart is back where he wants to be and chasing a second Qatar Masters title after taking a share of the first-round lead alongside Ryder Cup duo Henrik Stenson and Miguel Angel Jimenez yesterday.

Last year Coltart was without a tour card and only competed in Doha thanks to winning the inaugural event back in 1998, and trudged off the final green after missing a putt which would have earned him a guaranteed trip to Dubai the following week.

An invite to Dubai and a host of other events did ultimately follow, but this year he is guaranteed around 25 tournaments – eight more than the number of invites he had to scramble for last year – after finishing 14th at the qualifying school in November.

And after a solid performance at the South African Open before Christmas, Coltart joined Stenson and Jimenez in carding opening rounds of 66, six under par, to open up a one-shot lead over Lee Westwood, Robert Dinwiddie, Anders Hansen, Brett Rumford and Louis Oosthuizen.

Damien McGrane mixed five birdies with two bogeys to lead the Irish challenge on three-under-par 69. Gary Murphy shot 71, Paul Lawrie 72 with Darren Clarke on one-over-par 73. Rory McIlroy and Paul McGinley have work to do after opening rounds of 76.

“My career wasn’t really going anywhere expect down,” admitted Coltart, 38, a member of the 1999 Ryder Cup team. “I was on the career money list and not achieving anything out of that category and ended up losing my card last year and had to go back to Tour school.

“I went back and things went pretty well. I was working hard with Colin Brooks back in Edinburgh and I was quite confident going into Tour school and played well and achieved something.”

After starting on the back nine at the familiar Doha Golf Club, Coltart reached the turn in four under, courtesy mainly of an eagle two after driving the 16th green.

And despite dropping his only shot at the sixth after three putts, three further birdies kept the Scot in the hunt.

“Losing the card and doing the media work really hit home, this is where I still want to be while I’m still strong enough and fit enough to compete. I want to be out here and I hope to stay here for several more years,” he added.

Dubai-based Stenson, the 2006 Qatar champion who finished runner-up last year, missed the cut in Abu Dhabi last week but more hard work on the driving range paid off.

“I had a good session on the range in Abu Dhabi on Saturday and that’s about it,” said the world number 11.

“I’ve been working away on the swing and that was the problem in Abu Dhabi.

“I’ve been struggling with my tee balls for quite some time but got it a bit more under control, and even had the driver out on a few occasions.

“I wouldn’t say I’m shocked with how I played but I am happy to start the tournament the way I did.”

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Pat Perez fired an 11-under-par 61 to grab a one-shot lead after the first round of the Bob Hope Classic.

A superb 28 on his first nine holes helped catapult Perez to the top of the leaderboard and a one-stroke advantage over Mike Weir and Bubba Watson.

Perez, who never has won on the PGA Tour, had 10 birdies and an eagle on the Palmer course.

He had six birdies and an eagle on his opening nine and appeared poised to make a run at the tour record of 59 until his lone bogey at number five (his 14th hole) stemmed his momentum.

Weir, the champion here in 2003, used a blazing finish on the Palmer course to vault into the early lead before he was overtaken by Perez.

The Canadian had three birdies and an eagle in the final five holes en route to his 62. Weir shot a 30 on the back nine.

Vaughn Taylor, Briny Baird and Ben Crane were part of a six-man group at nine-under.

Defending champion DJ Trahan was among a cluster at seven-under 65.

He is looking to become just the second player to defend the title at this event.

Par took a beating as 60 players shot 67 or better and only 15 players failed to shoot in red numbers.

The 90-hole event will be played on four courses and features a first prize of €700,000.