Qatar Masters update: World number two Vijay Singh made a lethargic start in the opening round of the Qatar Masters today while Paul McGinley's game continues to be a model of consistency with the Dubliner carding a bogey-free round on the desert terrain of Doha.

Without Tiger Woods, Singh is the highest ranked player in the field but a mixed bag of four bogeys and just three birdies for a 73 left the Fijian well down the field on one over. Erratic putting continues to frustrate the 42-year-old.

As for McGinley he set off with a birdie at the first, then never looked back. A second birdie at the ninth brought him to the turn in two under before a third birdie at the 12th, with no dropped shots, left the Volvo Masters champion tied 10th on three under.

McGinley finds himself three off the early pace set by Ricardo Gonzalez. The big-hitting Argentine holds the clubhouse lead on six under following a round containing seven birdies and just one dropped shot at the eighth.

Gonzalez finds himself in a rich vein of form in the early part of the season, having tied fourth at last week’s Abu Dhabi Championship. However, Jean van de Velde was closing in on the lead with every hole he played at the dry and windy venue.

Starting at the 10th Van de Velde reeled-off four birdies on the trot, was then stopped in his tracks by a bogey at 14, before responding with another pair of birdies. With five holes to play he was on level terms with Gonzalez’s clubhouse target.

Darren Clarke, making his first appearance of the new season, found himself one under through 13, one ahead of Damien McGrane who opened with a level par 72. Peter Lawrie was also level par at the midpoint of his round.