Thursday January 28, 2010, 12:51 PM

Sweden's Robert Karlsson shot a brilliant four-under-par 68 to take the clubhouse lead on the opening day of the 2.5-million-dollar Qatar Masters on Thursday.

Karlsson made light of the stiff winds that swirled around the Doha Golf Club to lead Colombian Camilo Villegas and Spaniard Sergio Garcia by two shots in the 13th edition of the European Tour event.

The former European number one found every green in regulation and hit an eagle on the par four 15th hole to go with his birdies on the first, eighth and 16th although he dropped a shot on the seventh.

"The course was very, very difficult and I'm happy with the round given the conditions," said Karlsson.

"My caddie told me I hit every green out there which was pretty good. It meant I had a lot of long putts but that is what you have to do when it's windy. But I am obviously very happy," said Karlsson.

Golfers had expressed fears about the wind and the thick rough making scoring tough, but Karlsson found no fault with the course.

"The course is set up very well. It's tough but it's very fair and extremely good condition. It's definitely the weather that makes the golf course very much harder."

In 2002 Adam Scott had an eagle on the 15th and went on to win the title, but Karlsson played it safe when asked if he could repeat the feat.

"I'm not going to guarantee I'm going to win it, no. But I'll take a two on any par four in any situation.

Villegas, playing in Qatar for the first time, produced a steady round with three birdies and a bogey.

"It was a grind. It's tough out there," conceded the world number 25, who was let down somewhat by a last hole bogey.

"I am a little disappointed. I three-putted the last hole and I made a bogey, the only bogey of the day.

"But I'm happy with what I did. I mean, I missed several fairways and I missed several greens, but everybody is going to do that on a day like today and I just managed to get them up-and-down."

Garcia hit three birdies and a bogey in his 70 and had no complaints.

"I feel like we played decent, hit two or three terrible shots, but other than that, it was a good day," he said.

"Obviously the course was playing very difficult with this wind, and the firmness of the greens, just a little disappointed we didn't birdie the last. But that's the way it is I guess."

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie shot a four-over-par 76 along with former major winners Todd Hamilton and Paul Lawrie. European number one Lee Westwood was two under after 11 holes.

© 2010 AFP/sid