The opening round of the Qatar Masters 2026 delivered fireworks at Doha Golf Club, as Daniel Hillier (-7) and Patrick Reed (-7) surged to the top of the leaderboard. Hillier impressed with sharp ball-striking through his front nine, while Reed’s composed putting secured him a share of the lead with a round of 65.

Just behind them, Joachim S. Olesen (-6) and Oliver Lindell (-6) finished strongly to tie for third, keeping themselves within striking distance. Kobori Kazuma (-5) also produced a confident round to sit in fifth place, ensuring the leaderboard remains tightly packed.

Several players are clustered at -4, including Richard Sterne (-4) and Adrien Blomme (-4), both showing consistency to stay in touch with the leaders. Others like Grant Forrest (-2) and Nacho Elvira (+2) had mixed fortunes, leaving work to do in Round 2.

Local interest came from Ali Saleh Al Kaabi (-1), who made a steady start to sit inside the top ten early on. His presence adds a homegrown storyline to the international field.

India’s Shubhankar Sharma (-1), though not among the leaders, remains well-positioned after a composed opening round. With his ability to go low, Sharma could climb quickly if he finds rhythm in the second round.