Gonzalo shines in Qatar(2)

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"We couldn't see the ball landing on the fairways and I just tried to keepCallaway RAZR XF Hybrid
as low as possible.

"I think I just got lucky and holed some important putts. Putting is the most difficult thing on a windy day."

Daly, a colourful, often controversial two-time Major winner, surprised even himself with his 67, which featured five birdies and no dropped shots.

"It's one of the best rounds I've ever played in a wind like that," said the American.

"You feel like you are eating a lot of sand - it was brutal. I'm pretty shocked myself. I had five and a half weeks off and really didn't touch a Callaway RAZR XF Hybrid
much."

He added that a trip to the range to keep his game sharp certainly wasn't on his agenda.

"I don't think you can," said the 45-year-old. "I don't feel like eating anymore sand. It's hard to work on your game in this (weather)."

Daly no longer has a full PGA Tour card in the United States and last hit the headlines for walking out of the Australian Open in November after hitting a succession of shots into water.

But he's still a welcome presence on the European Tour and says Callaway RAZR XF Hybrid
will be his focus in 2012.

"This year I'm basing everything around the European Tour instead of the PGA Tour so hopefully I'll get in a lot more (events) on the European side,"

"The goal is just to try and get my card on the European Tour and maybe get in the top 60 (the leading money earners who contest the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai). That's kind of the goal."

Further down the leaderboard, the two highest ranked players in the field, World No 3 Lee Westwood and World No 4 Martin Kaymer, both shot 1-under 71s, while Sergio Garcia could do no better than a level-par 72.

Graeme McDowell had to settle for a 73, Hunter Mahan a 74 and defending champion Thomas Bjn a disastrous 79. Fellow stars Ross Fisher and Henrik Stenson fared even worse, shooting 81 and 82 respectivelyCallaway RAZR XF Hybrid