James is wary of good form

Ryder Cup captain Mark James continued to surprise himself by taking a share of third place after yesterday's first round in Doha.

A five-under-par 67 left 45-year-old James only a stroke behind leaders Raymond Russell and Marc Farry and came just three days after he finished joint third in the Dubai Desert Classic.

"I'm suspicious of this form," said the Ilkley-based golfer, whose 1998 season ended with his arm in a sling after tearing a shoulder muscle during the Volvo Masters.

"I didn't practise until the middle of January but the swing just seems to have clicked into place. It's too easy at the moment and obviously it's going to disappear soon!"

Padraig Harrington was best of the Irish after firing a one-under par 71 in the calm morning conditions, before the wind picked up to disrupt the afternoon starters.

"My chipping and short-iron play was okay, but my putting was horrific," Harrington said.

Philip Walton and Paul McGinley finished on level par 72, while Eamon Darcy finished just one shot worse. McGinley, who got the worst of the conditions, was three-over at one stage, and was happy with the way he finished. Des Smyth struggled to a 77, along side Seve Ballesteros.

James still insists there is no way he will be a playing captain against the Americans in Boston in September.

Lucky to be out on the superb Doha course before the wind picked up, James' third shot, just after 7.30 am, was a 45-yard chip to the long 10th and in it went for an eagle three. Five birdies were to follow, but two bogeys cost him top spot as he began his chase for a 19th European Tour title, but his first since the 1997 Spanish Open.

Russell also had an eagle - at the 319-yard 16th, where players have to try to drive over a huge limestone rock in front of the green.

The 26-year-old Scot's drive carried the rock but finished in rough 60 feet from the flag and he too chipped in. It helped Russell to an inward half of 30.

Farry has missed four cuts in a row prior to this week but rounded off easily his best day's work of the year with three birdies in four holes.

In danger of an horrendous 14th successive missed cut as a professional, however, is Hampshire 18-year-old Justin Rose.

The nightmare which has been Rose's career since he finished joint fourth with Russell in last July's Open continued with a four-over 76.

For the second week running the teenager had an eight on his card. Last week in Dubai it came at the end of his first round when he deliberately played down an adjoining fairway only to discover it was out of bounds, and today it came on his very first hole.

Rose's third shot to the 521-yard 10th finished on a cart path and because the nearest point of relief was in a bush he tried to play it, but took three more shots to make the green. He probably now needs a 69 to survive.

Eduardo Romero had a day to remember, holing his seven-iron tee shot to the 161-yard 17th and winning a BMW sports car worth in excess of £25,000.

Defending champion Andrew Coltart had to birdie the last three holes for a 71 and Swindon's David Howell, runaway winner of the Dubai Desert Classic, came back to earth with a 72.