A late flurry of birdies helped Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano leapfrog the US's John Daly at the top of the first-round leaderboard on a windy day in the desert at the Qatar Masters yesterday.

Fernandez-Castano, who won the Singapore Open in November, returned a six-under-par 66 late in the day to move one stroke ahead of Daly, an early starter at the European Tour event. South Korean KJ Choi and Australian Jason Day shared third spot on 68, while world No3 Lee Westwood and fourth-ranked Martin Kaymer were back on 71.

James Kingston and George Coetzee were the best of the South Africans at two under.

"That was one of the best rounds I've ever played in wind like that. You feel like you are eating sand - it was brutal," Daly said.

The former British Open and US PGA champion has plunged to 543rd in the world rankings and was surprised at his display.

"I'm pretty shocked," said Daly, 45, after producing a flawless round containing five birdies.

"I have had five-and-a-half weeks off and really didn't touch a club much."

Daly no longer has a US PGA Tour card.

Pars were in short supply for Fernandez-Castano as he mixed nine birdies with three bogeys.

The Spaniard defied the elements late in the round by squeezing four birdies in the last five holes.