A composed Jyoti Randhawa kicked off his campaign with an opening round of two-under 70 to be tied 10th, even though his compatriots Shiv Kapur and Jeev Milkha Singh went over-par in the $ 2.5 million Qatar Masters in Doha on Thursday.
Shiv Kapur was tied 59th after an inconsistent round of 73 while it was worse with Jeev who finished further one shot behind.
Randhawa, a 10th tee starter had an average back nine, where the birdie on the 16th was just an atonement for the dropped shot on 13th.
But once he took the turn, things looked bright for the lanky Indian who birdied the second hole and signed off by picking up another shot on the ninth for a decent outing.
In contrast, Shiv Kapur was undone by the four dropped shots over five holes.
The Delhi lad, who birdies the first, seventh and 16th holes, stuttered in his back nine where he bogeyed the 10th and 12th and then suffered a double bogey on the par-four 14th that put him in a spot of bother.
Jeev, on the other hand, mixed two bogeys, as many birdies and a double bogey on the second hole to round off a disappointing day.
Meanwhile, Lee Westwood continued his red hot form and fired an opening five-under 67 to share the lead with South African Anton Haig.
Haig set the early pace and was six-under par before three putting the ninth hole, his final, from 70 feet.
Westwood responded by firing five birdies in a flawless display at Doha Golf Club.
