Commercial Bank Qatar Masters - Day one digest

Flawless Ashun Wu and Zander Lombard led the way, Jaco Prinsloo had a positive attitude while Adrian Otaegui and Callum Shinkwin showed off their skills for impressive birdies during the first round of the 2024 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday at Doha Golf Club.

Amazing Ashun and in-form Lombard share lead

Wu took advantage of his early wake-up call to climb to the summit at Doha Golf Club with a flawless 67. The Chinese star, who has won four DP World Tour titles in his career, opened with a birdie at the tenth before adding another at the short 16th. He picked up back-to-back shots from the first before adding his fifth and final gain at the seventh to hold the clubhouse lead until Lombard battled the afternoon wind in an impressive display to join the Chinese player at the summit. Wu said: "It was a great day today. A lot of greens, a lot of quality shots - on the tees, on the fairways and good putts too. Five birdies and bogey-free today is a really good start. I wasn't here last year but I think the course has changed a little bit, moved the tees a little bit further back and made the fairways a bit wider and more water around the greens so it is great right now, it is perfect."

Lombard has been in brilliant form without getting over the line since the turn of the year. He was runner-up at last week's Bahrain Championship presented by Bapco Energies following three top-20 finishes and timed his charge perfectly on Thursday with a closing birdie. He said: "Just really solid. I think I only missed two greens where I had to chip and the other one was just off and I putted it, so it was stress-free and a lot of lagged putts and the greens are beautiful, so slick and fast, so everything looks like its rolling in at the moment. I've got no weakness in the bag at the moment."

Sweet 16 makes up for difficult ninth and 13th

The par-four 16th at Doha Golf Club was playing 307 yards in round one and many took advantage. Five eagles and 78 birdies were recorded on Thursday in comparison to just one bogey and four double bogeys from the 138 players. That was a sweet relief after plenty had suffered on the huge 639-yard par-five ninth where only 11 carded a red number, while at the par-three 13th there were just six gains all day. Englishman Sam Bairstow was the only person to birdie both holes.

Otaegui putts away his wedges

Otaegui opted for an unconventional birdie attempt when he was just off the green with his approach at the par-four fifth. The Spaniard took the flag out and decided to putt his way up the fringe from 16 yards to claw back the dropped shot from his opening hole. Well it was never in doubt was it!

Shinkwin dials in on back-to-back par fives

Shinkwin was one of the few players to pick up a shot at the monster ninth hole. Despite finding the sand with his second stroke, he produced this stunning approach from the sand trap for arguably the easiest birdie on the hole all day. What a shot!

The Englishman then followed that up with this approach at the next to set up an eagle chance, which he rolled in.

Fitzpatrick finishes with a flourish

Alex Fitzpatrick struggled for momentum during his opening round, which included an impressive par save at the par-three third before mixing two birdies with two dropped shots. He found the bunker with his second shot at the par-five last and would have been more than happy to give himself a birdie chance, but he went one better to sit three shots adrift of leaders Wu and Lombard.