Rumford starts well at Qatar Masters

Australia's Brett Rumford has started the Qatar Masters with a solid opening-round 68 to sit three shots from the lead.

Rumford's round of four-under in windy conditions at Doha GC on Wednesday puts him withing striking distance of South African Louis Oosthuizen and Spain's Pablo Larrazabal, who are perched at the top of the leaderboard on 65.

Former British Open champion Oosthuizen made seven birdies while former Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium was among a group of three players one shot further back.

Defending champion Branden Grace of South Africa and 2014 Qatar winner Sergio Garcia carded opening rounds of 70.

Of the other Australians, Marcus Fraser (69), Wade Ormsby and Nathan Holman (70) were below par while Scott Hend Andrew Dodt signed for an even-par 72.

"I like windy conditions," Oosthuizen told the European Tour website. "If it gets really strong, then it gets difficult.

"There are a lot of cross-wind shots, where you're not sure if it's in or a little down, so you need to have that wind map out and handy."